Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 418.155 (2026)

Agricultural employer; definition.

✓ current as of July 2026
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WORKER'S DISABILITY COMPENSATION ACT OF 1969


Act 317 of 1969


418.155 Agricultural employer; definition.

Sec. 155.

    (1) An agricultural employer means one who hires a person performing services:

    (a) On a farm, in connection with cultivating the soil, or in connection with raising or harvesting any agricultural or horticultural commodity, including the raising, shearing, feeding, caring for, training and management of livestock, bees, poultry and fur-bearing animals and wildlife.

    (b) In the employ of the owner or tenant or other operator of a farm, in connection with the operation, management, conservation, improvement or maintenance of such farm and its tools and equipment or in salvaging timber or clearing land of brush and other debris left by a hurricane, if the major part of such service is performed on a farm.

    (c) In connection with the production or harvesting of maple syrup or maple sugar or any commodity defined as an agricultural commodity or in connection with the raising or harvesting of mushrooms or in connection with the hatching of poultry or in connection with the operation or maintenance of ditches, canals, reservoirs or waterways used exclusively for supplying and storing water for farming purposes.

    (d) In handling, planting, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading, storing or delivering to storage or to market or to a carrier for transportation to market, any agricultural or horticultural commodity but only if such service is performed as an incident to ordinary farming operations or in the case of fruits and vegetables as an incident to the preparation of such fruits or vegetables for market. The provisions of this subdivision shall not be deemed to be applicable with respect to service performed in connection with commercial canning or commercial freezing or in connection with any agricultural or horticultural commodity after its delivery to a terminal market for distribution for consumption.

    (2) As used in this section, farm includes stock, dairy, poultry, fruit, fur-bearing animals and truck farms, plantations, ranches, nurseries, ranges, greenhouses or other similar structures used primarily for the raising of agricultural or horticultural commodities and orchards.

History: 1969, Act 317, Eff. Dec. 31, 1969

PopularName Notes:

Act 317
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 1972–1990 · leading case: Eastway v. Eisenga, 362 N.W.2d 684 (Mich. 1985).
Eastway v. Eisenga, 362 N.W.2d 684 (Mich. 1985). · cites it 2× “MCL 418.155; MSA 17.237(155). If the Court's holding in Gallegos were to be limited so that three regular employees must work more than 35 hours per week for 13 weeks, then the act would not apply to an agricultural employer who has a regular work force of 20 or 100 or more…”
Gallegos v. Glaser Crandell Co., 202 N.W.2d 786 (Mich. 1972). · cites it 2× “It reads: "(1) An agricultural employer means one who hires a person performing services: "(a) On a farm, in connection with cultivating the soil, or in connection with raising or harvesting any agricultural or horticultural commodity, including the raising, shearing, feeding,…”
Sharpe v. Angora Enter., 460 N.W.2d 261 (Mich. Ct. App. 1990). “237(115)(d); MCL 418.155(1); MSA 17.237(155X1). Since the parties do not dispute that Angora was an employer under the auspices of the act and Angora never responded to the contrary, we do not see a conflict necessitating our resolution.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 418.155(1) — 1 case
Sharpe v. Angora Enter., 460 N.W.2d 261 (Mich. Ct. App. 1990). “237(115)(d); MCL 418.155(1); MSA 17.237(155X1). Since the parties do not dispute that Angora was an employer under the auspices of the act and Angora never responded to the contrary, we do not see a conflict necessitating our resolution.”
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