July 22, 2008

LANSING, Mich. - To gather comments on the 2009 drafts of the state’s Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs), the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) today announced a Public Input Meeting and review period has been scheduled.

This year’s GAAMPs Public Input Meeting will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 2008, in the Lake Superior Room of the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 West Kalamazoo Street, in downtown Lansing.

The Michigan Right to Farm Act provides nuisance protection for farms and farm operations. In order to have this protection, the farm or farm operation must conform to GAAMPs, which are set by the Michigan Commission of Agriculture. These GAAMPs are reviewed annually by scientific committees of various experts, and revised and updated as necessary. Public comment is accepted and considered before final versions of the GAAMPs are approved.

Public comment will be taken on the following GAAMPs: Manure Management and Utilization, Site Selection for New and Expanding Livestock Production Facilities, and Care of Farm Animals. The GAAMPs regarding Nutrient Utilization, Irrigation Water Use, Pesticide Utilization and Pest Control, and Cranberry Production have no proposed changes for 2009.

Written comments may be submitted to MDA’s Environmental Stewardship Division, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909, or via e-mail to kizziara@michigan.gov by 5 p.m. on August 19, 2008. MDA will forward all comments received by the due date to the respective GAAMPs Task Force chairpersons for consideration prior to final review and adoption.

For a copy of any of these GAAMPs including the proposed revisions, please visit www.michigan.gov/gaamps, or contact the MDA’s Environmental Stewardship Division at (517) 373-9797, or toll free at (877) 632-1783.