Leading the Charge Against Michigan Factory Farms

Photo by Beverly Wolf

Michigan Sierra Club organizer Gayle Miller spearheaded a 150-person lobbying effort to the State Capitol in Lansing in late April to support a factory farm moratorium. Representatives from 40 organizations, including conservation, family farm, and faith-based groups, visited all but one state legislator, urging them to support two bills proposing a 5-year moratorium on new or expanded concentrated animal feeding operations in the state. The bills were introduced by Senator Ray Basham and Representative Mark Meadows, flanking the podium above. "It's time this out-of-control industry is required to meet the same standards other industries meet, and time to ensure that the state is ready to enforce those laws," said Sierra Club Mackinac Chapter Director Anne Woiwode, in pink jacket next to Senator Basham; speaking is Senator Liz Brater. Coalition members also took the opportunity to lobby lawmakers on energy efficiency and renewables. Learn more about the trouble with factory farms.