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Conformance Review Application

Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs)
Conformance Review Application

This application is intended for use by commercial farm operations that are establishing new components or expanding existing ones. It is designed to guide applicants in providing the necessary information for a voluntary on-site review by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Right to Farm Program.

Note: Applications submitted without the required supporting management plans, as described in the Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs), will be considered incomplete and will not be accepted. Jump to what should be in a plan?

Completing this form as fully as possible will help Right to Farm Program staff understand the complexity of your farm operation, the circumstances prompting the review, and the GAAMPs that may apply.

This application may not circumvent local village, city, township or county concerns. If an existing farm component(s) is identified as an issue, local units of government should file a complaint to the Right to Farm Program to initiate a review of their concerns. Local units of government should not request a farm operation complete a GAAMPs review, as this process is primarily meant for new or expanding farm operations.
For more details on what to expect during this process, visit Michigan.gov/RightToFarm.

Application

 

 

All fields are required, unless labeled as (optional).

Owner's Information

Requesting a GAAMPs Conformance Review

Map Upload

You must include a labeled map of your farmstead/property identifying the following:

● Property lines

● Farm buildings and their uses

● Sensitive areas (e.g., surface waters, wetlands, wells, etc.)

● Areas managed as part of the farm operation

● Livestock animal unit calculation worksheet (if applicable, refer Appendix D of the Site Selection GAAMPs)

Please select the GAAMPs you would like reviewed and upload the appropriate supporting management plan.

Note: Requesting a review of the Livestock Site Selection and Odor Control for New and Expanding Livestock Facilities GAAMPs will automatically include a review of the Manure Management and Utilization GAAMPs.

Maximum of 8 files allowed.

Management Plans

Management plans must be included for each GAAMP selected. The following is a checklist of the basic components for each type of plan

What should be in a livestock site selection plan?

Management plan should include details of the following, as applicable:

What should be in a manure management plan?

Management plan should include details of the following, as applicable:

  •  Livestock numbers and seasonal variation  
  • Annual manure volume 
  • Collection, transfer, storage, treatment, and utilization methods
    • Includes field maps, soil test records, nutrient plan, application records, etc.
  • Manuring exports/sales, if applicable
  • Conservation practices (location, size, design, and maintenance)
  • Odor-reduction practices 
  • Pasture management 
  • Recordkeeping practices and records

What should be in a farm market plan?

Management plan should include details of the following, as applicable:

  • Site map identify retail sale and/or marketing activity areas
  • A business plan including:
    • Marketing activities
    • Floor space management
    • Signage
    • Parking and driveways
    • Building details
    • Ingress/egress considerations

What should be in an animal care plan?

Management plan should include details of the following, as applicable:

  • Identification of livestock species present
  • Map identifying management zones within livestock buildings
  • Identification of housing space per animal, per management zone
  • Identification of biosecurity practices utilized on site and biosecurity zones 
  • Details related to nutrition, health care/veterinary care, facility management, euthanasia, dead animal disposal (including periodic death and mass depopulation)
  • Species-specific requirements as defined in the Care of Farm Animals GAAMPs
  • Recordkeeping practices and records

What should be in a nutrient management plan?

Management plan should include details of the following, as applicable:

  • Field maps
  • Soil test records, nutrient application records, and recordkeeping
  • Conservation practices (location, size, design, and maintenance)
  • Bulk fertilizer storage locations and required safety measures          
  • Container-grown plant practices, if applicable
  • Fertigation practices, if applicable
  • Recordkeeping practices and records

What should be in an irrigation water management plan?

Management plan should include details of the following, as applicable:

  • Identification of irrigation equipment details (e.g., type, size, zones, water sources, etc.)
  • Site map of irrigation area(s), if needed
  • Registration of water well reports
    • High-capacity well registration - records related to previous 2-3 years of reporting, if applicable
  • Identification of practices that reduce/prevent off target application
  • Practices to ensure water aquifer protection (backflow prevention); identification of specialized safety devices, if chemigating or fertigating
  • Identification of management to not exceed water holding capacity of soil
  • Identification of practices where irrigation is utilized for crop protection
  • Recordkeeping practices and records

What should be in a pesticide use and pest control plan?

Management plan should include details of the following, as applicable:

  • Identification of crops grown, fields managed
    • Site map identifying areas where pesticides may be applied, sensitive areas in or adjacent to those areas, and/or conservation practices in those areas
  • Description of common pests observed and pest control strategies for these pests (chemical, mechanical, etc.)
  • Identification of alternative pest management techniques; including devices used, a record of manufacturer recommendations, and/or supporting defined approaches identified by Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, if applicable
  • Identification of types of chemical applications that may be utilized on your operation
  • Recordkeeping for chemical pesticides, including date, rate, windspeed direction, calibration of equipment, and other identified items within the GAAMPs and/or product label
  • Worker protection standard practices utilized
  • Environmental protections utilized
  • Certifications and training of farm staff/employees
  • Description regarding the recycling or disposal of empty pesticide containers
  • Identification of storage, mixing & loading, or other related practices on farmstead or in farm fields
    • If a bulk fertilizer storage exists on farm, identification of design criteria, map showing the location of the building and distances to wells, and other related items as described in the GAAMPs
  • Emergency plan, meeting SARA title III requirements, if applicable

Technical Resources

If an applicant needs technical assistance in developing any of the above management plans, or education related to any of these management plans, staff within the following service entities may be able to provide technical assistance.