LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development has rolled out its 2025 updates to the Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs). These “best practices” are intended to help farmers toe the line with the Michigan Right to Farm Act, offering protection if the neighbors start grumbling about barnyard smells or clucking hens.

This year’s Care of Farm Animals GAAMP, packed into a 134-page instruction manual, touches on everything from bees to bison, laying out just about every move a farmer should make if they want to stay in the state’s good graces – and not get sued by a menacing neighbor.

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Tim Boring, Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), assures us these updates are rooted in “the best-available science” – a surefire way to keep farms safe and running smoothly, at least according to bureaucrats in a building in Lansing that undoubtedly has no bison – or bees.

Bees and bureaucracy buzz in harmony.

One highlighted change this year? Apiaries (bee farms) are now officially invited into the GAAMP club. With specific language aimed at keeping hives healthy, these rules underscore Michigan’s blossoming interest in pollinator health. Bee farmers are expected to follow a structured approach to hive care, ensuring the state’s little pollinators can keep up their end of the agricultural deal.

Beefed-up beef guidelines.

The beef cattle section alone is no small read, covering everything from manure management to non- ambulatory cattle handling. If you thought caring for cows was all grazing and the occasional pat on the head, think again. The guidelines address every conceivable aspect of beef care, from transportation to temperature management – because apparently Michigan farmers can’t be left to figure that out themselves, at least according to Lansing bureaucrats.

Odor control and site selection with state-approved farm fresh scents.

For those daring enough to expand their livestock facilities, the 2025 GAAMPs detail everything from site selection to odor management. The state has thoughtfully broken down the steps, helping farmers stay odor-free – or at least neighbor-friendly.

Access to the state rules is just a click away.

If any Michigan farmers missed the memo on how to run and manage their own farms, they can find the full 2025 guidelines on the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s website or reach out to the Right to Farm Program at 877-632-1783.