March 21, 2008

Interest in Michigan’s voluntary, proactive program for assuring effective land stewardship practices on farms is growing, announced Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Don Koivisto. The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) recognized multiple farms in Oceana County as verified farms within the MAEAP's qualification guidelines. The program assists farmers to comply with state and federal environmental regulations and with Right to Farm practices.

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) recognized:

• Lound & Lound, located in Shelby, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead System.
• Four Star Farms, located in Hart, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead System.
• Reames Farm, located in Shelby, as a verified farm in the Farmstead System.
• NJ Fox & Sons, Inc., located in Shelby, as a verified farm in the Cropping System.
• DeRuiter Farms, Inc., located in Hart, as a verified farm in the Cropping System.

MAEAP is a collaborative effort of producers, MDA, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Farm Bureau, commodity organizations, Michigan State University, conservation groups, and other state and federal agencies. Technical assistance was provided by Jack Lake of Oceana Conservation District. To date, approximately 5,500 farmers have attended educational programs and more than 500 have been verified.

“MAEAP is designed to be one of the most effective and feasible ways for producers to position their farms long term for safeguarding both the environment and their economic viability,” said Koivisto. “By sharing technological information and monitoring and recording changes in the way producers manage problems, MAEAP helps farmers find solutions for potential pollution problems.”

To become MAEAP verified, farmers must complete three comprehensive steps which include attending an educational seminar, conducting a thorough on-farm risk assessment, and developing and implementing an action plan addressing potential environmental risks. MDA conducts an on farm inspection to verify program requirements related to applicable state and federal environmental regulations, Michigan Right to Farm guidelines, and adherence to an action plan. When completed, the producer receives a certificate of environmental assurance. To remain a MAEAP verified farm, inspections must be conducted every three years and action steps must be followed.

MAEAP is a multi-year program allowing producers to meet personal objectives, while best managing both time and resources. The program encompasses three systems designed to help producers evaluate the environmental risks of their operation. Each system - Livestock, Farmstead, and Cropping - examines a different aspect of a farm, as each has a different environmental impact. By participating in all three systems, producers can comprehensively evaluate their entire farming operation for potential environmental risks.

For more information, visit the MAEAP Web site at www.maeap.org or contact Jan Wilford, MDA Environmental Stewardship Division, at 517/241-4730.