Appropriation
Summary |
Actual[1] |
Recommended |
Savings |
Interdepartmental Grants/Transfers |
$10,953,800 |
$9,342,000 |
$1,611,800 |
Federal Funds |
$ 6,639,500 |
$4,505,500 |
$2,134,000 |
General Fund/General Purpose |
$38,407,400 |
$33,210,755 |
$5,196,645 |
Special Revenue Funds |
$40,470,000 |
$15,276,360 |
$25,193,640 |
Gross
Appropriation |
$96,470,700 |
$62,334,615 |
$34,136,085 |
Following is a list of Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) programs and recommendations to downsize, outsource, or eliminate. The MDA was created in 1921 by the Michigan Legislature. According to the department’s official web site, its mission is "to serve, promote and protect the food, agricultural, environmental and economic interests of the people of Michigan."[2] This sweeping statement effectively authorizes the department to involve itself in aspects of civil society in which government action may be unnecessary or counterproductive, distorting market mechanisms and incentives in the process. Accordingly, the Legislature should reduce and/or eliminate low-priority programs, including those listed below. Doing so will reduce the MDA budget by 35 percent.