MAEAP "The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program"
MAEAP is an innovative, proactive program that assists farms of all sizes and all commodities how to voluntarily prevent or minimize pollution risks on their farms. The program helps producers identify and prevent environmental risks and comply with State and Federal environmental regulations. MAEAP was developed by a coalition of agriculture producers, commodity groups, State and Federal agencies, and conservation and environmental organizations. The Michigan Department of Agriculture is the verifying agency but the MAEAP is not a government or regulatory program but rather a partnership effort. A farmer can be verified in three different systems, Farmstead, Cropping, Livestock or for all systems applicable to his or her farm
MAEAP is a three phase program – Phase 1-Education, requiring producers to attend at least one 2 ½ hour educational meeting. Phase 2 – On-Farm risk assessment – Farm-A-Syst, or Crop-A-Syst conducted by a trained technician . Phase 3- Third party verification, is performed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture to assure that producer has met requirements of Phase 1&2 and that the Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices are being followed. The verification process is confidential and results of the process will not leave the farm. Re-verification is required every three years.
After satisfactory verification the producer is eligible to receive a sign for display on his or her property, may be eligible for benefits like insurance discounts, cost-share, and enhancements in some Federal programs such as the Conservation Security Program. Once a producer is verified his or her Township Supervisor and State Representative are notified by the Michigan Department of Agriculture of the verification.
The public can take comfort in knowing that MAEAP verified farms are using sound practices to protect natural resources and build positive community and neighbor relations. For more information regarding the MAEAP program contact the Mason-Lake District or visit the MAEAP website – www.maeap.org.
2008 Groundwater Stewardship Program
The West Central Groundwater Stewardship Team met January 15, 2008 at the Oceana District #10 Health Department to establish program guidelines for fiscal year 2008. In attendance at the meeting were representatives from Conservation District’s, Michigan State University Extension, Farm Service Agency, NRCS, MDA, Farm Bureau, Emergency Planning and local producers to determine the programs priorities and goals. Promoting the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) verification process with producers remained the top priority. MAEAP is a voluntary, comprehensive, non-regulatory program with a partnership of many agencies and organizations unified for the protection of natural resources and positive community and neighborhood relations. The committee will also strongly support the Clean Sweep and Household Hazardous Waste collection day which will be held this year on
September 13th.
The group set cost-share rates and limits for F.Y. 2008 and determined practices eligible for cost-share. A list of these practices are available on the Manistee Conservation District web site through the link above, “GW Cost-Shared Practices”.
For further information regarding the groundwater program contact Murray Stall, Groundwater Technician at the Manistee Conservation District @ 231-889-4761.
