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Two bills passed the House of Representatives November 1 in support of the Equine Industry. HB 4072 and HB 4271 both passed in the House and now move to the Senate for consideration in tax policy committee.
HB 4072, Rep. Hildebrand, specifically defines breeding, raising, training or boarding horses as agricultural operations under the tax law for agricultural property. This will allow property tax exemptions for equine farms the same as any other agricultural operation.
HB 4271, Rep. Hune, redefines livestock to include raising equine and cervidae, which includes deer, elk and moose. This allows equine operations to qualify for tax reductions and exemptions on property tax.
Michigan Equine Partnership encourages you to contact your Senator and Agriculture Committee Chair, Senator Gerald VanWoerkom, 517-373-1635 to voice support for HB 4072 and HB 4271. For more information call Executive Director Val Vail-Shirey @ 517.372.1500 or e-mail val@miequine.com.
Mary Rossano, MSU epidemiologist and a leading researcher on the survey, says the survey will be used to estimate the number of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in Michigan, where they are located, their ages and representative breeds. The survey will also help identify what purposes people use horses for and how horse properties are zoned.
Information collected from the survey will be useful in determining the equine industry’s contribution to the state’s economy. This information can then be presented to local and state government officials who make decisions and policies on zoning and land use, trail access, tax laws and other issues affecting horse owners.
Currently, USDA scientists are constructing a frame work for the survey. They will be using mailing lists provided by many partnering Michigan equine organizations. Horse industry representatives will be working with MSU researchers to develop survey questions that will be the most beneficial for determining economic impact and aid in land use issues that affect the Michigan equine industry. Questionnaires will be mailed to more than 4,000 people involved in the state’s horse industry next spring.
While the survey is well underway, additional funding needs to be secured for the survey development, delivery and subsequent publications of important information. The Michigan Horse Council (MHC) and organizational members have rallied behind the survey efforts by pledging over $5,000 in financial support. President of the MHC Janet Washington says, "A comprehensive inventory of the equine industry will provide information the Michigan Horse Council needs to prioritize its program and advocacy efforts, as well as to accurately articulate the significant economic impact of the industry on local communities and the state as a whole."
The Michigan Equine Partnership (MEP) is working with MSU researchers in dialogue with state legislators for support of the survey efforts. Val Vail-Shirey, executive director of the MEP states, “Michigan Equine Partnership believes that it is important for all equine interest to work together to successfully engage and complete an equine survey for the state of Michigan. The equine industry is a large agri-tourism benefit to Michigan, yet it has been many years since a survey has been conducted. The value of securing accurate industry economic data is important not only to the industry but to Michigan and its communities."