Horses like these would be of no concern to animal rights extremists, right? Maybe. Maybe not, according to a number of Farm Bureau members who are concerned that any well-meaning but uninformed perception of bad care - including sparse springtime pasture - could lead to a visit from county animal control officers.
Lives in the balance
The mere mention of Jackson County Animal Control in the days following the county's March seizure of 69 horses amid charges of animal neglect, cruelty and torture near Grass Lake was enough to make farmers such as Zenz walk on egg shells. But now, more than six months after the seizure and about two months before the criminal trial for horse owners Matt Mercier and James Henderson, the eggshells are in pieces as local farmers seek to change what some of them view as trampled rights and a dangerous precedent that could lead to animal rights extremists dictating animal husbandry to farmers. Click here for full story.Hunters: Remember to practice safe processing of wild game
With the 2007 hunting season now underway, the Michigan departments of Agriculture (MDA) and Natural Resources (DNR) are reminding hunters and retail food establishments to follow food safety processing guidelines on how to prepare wild deer and game. Click here for full story.Draft horse show called magnet for Lansing region
More than 34,000 visitors jammed the MSU Livestock Pavilion for this year's MI Great Lakes International Draft Horse Show and Pull (MGLI) for a chance to see world class Percherons, Shires, Belgians and Clydesdales in action. While they were here Oct. 18 - 21, visitors spent $852,546 dollars in the community for overnight accommodations, food, fuel, hardware, camping supplies, clothing and general shopping, according to the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB). Click here for full story.MFB Annual Meeting: Leading today, mapping the future
The spirit of Michigan Farm Bureau's (MFB) 88th Annual Meeting is embodied in its theme, "Leading Today. Mapping the Future," as more than 1,000 MFB members will gather Nov. 27-30 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. Click here for full story.Herbruck Poultry Ranch to expand
A $400,000 grant to Ionia County for road improvements needed to support the expansion of Herbruck Poultry Ranch has been granted by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC). Click here for full story.Michigan Equine Conference scheduled
A two-day conference Dec. 12-13 at the Michigan State University (MSU) Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing will provide a forum for the state's equine enthusiasts to engage in discussions and presentations examining the industry's legislative, research, marketing and outreach priorities. Click here for full story.Meet Farm Bureau's rising stars at the State Annual Meeting
It's not difficult to catch a rising star in agriculture. Just ask the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB), which has a talented pool of young farmers between the ages of 18 and 35. Click here for full story.