Issues

The Governmental Relations division of MFBF provides regular monitoring and lobbying on legislative issues on Beacon Hill. Generally, over 400 bills per session have a direct bearing on agriculture, and require constant attention. Staff and government relations committee members provide testimony at legislative hearings, and coordinate a lobbying strategy involving all commodity organizations, and, where appropriate, the Department of Agricultural Resources.

This division also coordinates interaction with various state agencies on behalf of farmers. Farm Bureau regularly advocates for our members before:

• The Registry of Motor Vehicles
• Department of Environmental Protection
• Department of Public Health
• Department of Employment Training
• Department of Revenue
• Department of Agricultural Resources

Increasingly farmers governmental issues relate to local municipal boards, and governments. Farm Bureau assists its members by providing support information and court precedents to support a farmer's position. Further, staff are available, where approprate, to directly intercede with local officials on behalf of the member