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Michigan Farm Bureau adds drone policy

Unmanned Aircraft Systems have been one of the newest technologies adapted by farmers and Michigan Farm Bureau delegates have established new policy to protect farmer rights.

Jason McCormack of Ionia County represents Young Farmers on the Michigan Policy Development Committee. He says each year the committee reviews 800 to 1,000 resolutions put forth by county Farm Bureau members.  A new addition to Farm Bureau policy this year, Unmanned Aircraft Syst­ems.

“There’s a large opportunity there for farmers to use both search their fields and potentially for other applications down the road.”  He says, “It’s important for us, we feel, at the state level to create policy to protect our views and protect our opportunities as well as an trespass or nuisance issues we may face going forward.”  Delegates also crafted a national drone policy that will be brought to the American Farm Bureau Federation meeting in January.

McCormack tells Brownfield Farm Bureau policies are as diverse as Michigan agriculture.  “It’s interesting to see how many interesting and diverse issues effect agriculture in our state.” He says, “We see issues related forestry, we see issues on beekeeping, and we see issues on fruits and vegetables, and then obviously on cash crop and row crop as well.”

Other major policy issues at this year’s Annual Meeting have included animal agriculture and Waters of the United States.

AUDIO: Interview with Jason McCormack