Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development

Option to join via remote technology:
Dial by telephone: 1-248-509-0316, Conf. ID: 604 656 48#

The regular meeting of the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.  The business session is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.  The meeting is open to the public and this notice is provided under the Open Meetings Act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.  The Commissioners will be meeting at Deborah A. Stabenow Building – Houghton Conference Room, 6th floor South, 525 West Allegan Street, Lansing, Michigan. This meeting is also being conducted electronically to allow for greater remote public attendance and participation.  To join the meeting via Microsoft Teams: by telephone dial: 1-248-509-0316 and enter the Conference ID 604 656 48# or by video conference visit www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/boards/agcommission to join the day of the meeting.

In accordance with the Commission’s Public Appearance Guidelines, individuals wishing to address the Commission may pre-register to do so during the Public Comment period as noted below and will be allowed up to three minutes for their presentation.  Documents distributed in conjunction with the meeting will be considered public documents and are subject to provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.  The public comment time provides the public an opportunity to speak; the Commission will not necessarily respond to the public comment.

To pre-register to speak virtually during this meeting, individuals should contact the Commission Assistant no later than Fri. July 17, 2026, via email at MDA-Ag-Commission@michigan.gov and provide their name, organization they represent, address, and telephone number, as well as indicate if they wish to speak to an agenda item. The Commission Assistant will respond in acknowledgement of speaking request via email. You may also contact the Commission Assistant at that email address to provide input or ask questions on any business that will come before the Commission at the meeting.  The Commission Chair will call upon each person by name and telephone number when it is time for them to speak and there will be a meeting moderator facilitating participation.  All others wishing to speak will be provided two minutes to do so.  Instructions on how to be recognized will be provided at the beginning of the meeting. 

Those needing accommodations for effective participation in the meeting should contact the Commission Assistant at 800-292-3939 one week in advance or may use the Michigan Relay Center by calling 711 for deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired persons.

Tentative Agenda

1. Call to Order and Roll Call 
2. Approval of Agenda (action item)
3. Approval of Minutes from May 20th, 2026, Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development Meeting (action item) 
4. Commissioner Comments and Travel (action item)
5. Commissioner Issues: 
   • Retirement Resolution: Julie Melia (action item) 
   • Retirement Resolution: Steven Slater (action item) 
6. Director’s Report 
7. Gene Thompson Scholarship Awardees: Jeff Haarer, Producer Security and Ag Products Manager, Agriculture Development Bureau 
8. Public Comment on Agenda Items: In accordance with the Public Appearance Guidelines in the Commission Policy Manual, individuals wishing to address the Commission must complete a Public Appearance Card and will be allowed up to three minutes for their presentation.  Documents distributed at the meeting will be considered public documents and are subject to provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.  The public comment time provides the public an opportunity to speak; the Commission will not necessarily respond to the public comment. 
9. Food and Agriculture Investment Fund Requests: Jamie Zmitko-Somers, Division Director, Agriculture Development Division (action item) 
   • Project SLC (Star of the West) 
10. Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) Standards – Introduction of 2027 Standards: Erik Palm, Conservation Stewardship Division (information only) 
11. Bovine Tuberculosis: Notification of proposed orders to test in Charlevoix/Antrim and Iosco/Ogema/Arenac Counties: Director Boring (information only) 
12. Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices Site Suitability Determination for White Acres Lakeview – Appeal Process Review and Summary of Departmental Activities: Erica Rogers, Right to Farm Program Manager, Conservation Stewardship Division (information only) 
13. Public Comment: In accordance with the Public Appearance Guidelines in the Commission Policy Manual, individuals wishing to address the Commission will be allowed up to three minutes for their presentation.  Documents distributed at the meeting will be considered public documents and are subject to provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.  The public comment time provides the public an opportunity to speak; the Commission will not necessarily respond to the public comment. 
14. Adjourn (action item)