Jodi Venema is the MAEAP Technician for Missaukee, Kalkaska, Roscommon, and Wexford Counties; she can be contacted at 231.839.7193 or jodi.venema@macd.org. For statewide information regarding the MAEAP Program visit www.maeap.org.
What is MAEAP?
The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) assists farmers to evaluate their entire operation and make sustainable management decisions that balance the environment, economic, and society’s needs. The program encourages individuals to take voluntary, proactive steps to protect Michigan’s water quality and, therefore, the quality of drinking water. On March 8, 2011, Governor Snyder signed legislation, now Public Acts 1 & 2 of 2011, codifying MAEAP into law. MAEAP is a pro-active, voluntary program that works with farmers on implementing effective land stewardship practices and helps producers identify and prevent agricultural pollution risks on their farms. MAEAP technicians work with farmers to evaluate their entire operation and encourage sustainable, science-based management decisions that balance environmental, economic, and social factors. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) conducts a confidential on-farm inspection to verify program requirements related to applicable state and federal environmental regulations.
How Can I Become MAEAP Verified?
Being MAEAP verified indicates the farm has taken steps to address potential environmental risks and is in conformance with the Michigan Right to Farm Law and State/Federal environmental laws. To become MAEAP verified, farmers must complete three comprehensive steps: attend an education seminar, complete a thorough on-farm risk assessment, and develop and implement an action plan addressing potential environmental risks. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) conducts an on-farm inspection to verify program requirements related to applicable state and federal environmental regulations, including GAAMPs. To retain MAEAP verification, a farm must repeat all three steps including MDARD inspection every three years.
There are 20 farms currently MAEAP verified in Missaukee County, for a total of 41 systems (farmstead, cropping, livestock, and greenhouse) verified with a total of 24.286 acres enrolled!
What Are On-farm Risk Assessments?
The Missaukee Conservation District works closely with farmers to identify all environmental risks on the farmstead by completing a variety of confidential and voluntary detailed assessments. After potential risks are identified, the technician provides technical and educational assistance in order to address those risks, including Farm Bill conservation cost-share opportunities to implement stewardship practices.
Farm*A*Syst provides an environmental risk assessment of management practices, structures and site conditions on the farm to help producers identify and reduce risks to water resources.
Crop*A*Syst helps to develop and implement a management plan that prevents ground and surface water contamination in field crop and vegetable fields, fruit orchards, nursery crops, and Christmas tree farms.
Livestock*A*Syst assists livestock producers to identify risks to groundwater and/or surface water associated with their livestock operation. It is designed to meet the needs of livestock producers who are not ready to implement a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP).
Greenhouse*A*Syst is an environmental risk assessment tool suited to the unique aspects of greenhouse production. It assists greenhouse producers in identifying risks to water resources.
What is Emergency Farm Planning?
The Missaukee Conservation District works with producers to develop emergency plans to help ensure the safety of emergency responders, minimize property damage, protect family members and employees, and protect the environment should an emergency occur. The plan includes an overview of the property, highlighting storage areas, buildings, utilities and sensitive areas such as wells and surface water. It also includes a listing of emergency contact telephone numbers, information on hazardous and flammable substances stored on the farm and manure handling information for livestock farms. A copy of vital information needed in the case of an emergency is stored in an Emergency Tube located on the farmstead. The tube is weather resistant and includes a reflective label for quick detection at night.
What is the Clean Sweep program?
Clean Sweep is a service designed to collect, package and dispose of unused or unwanted pesticides, mercury, and pharmaceuticals properly and safely. Storing unusable pesticides represents an unnecessary risk to many including firefighters, children, pets, and the environment. Natural resources including soil, groundwater, and surface water can become contaminated if a spill occurs on the farm. A total of 388 pounds of unused and unwanted pesticides, mercury, and pharmaceuticals was collected and properly disposed of during Missaukee Conservation District’s Clean Sweep held on June 2, 2012 . Over the past twelve years, the Missaukee Conservation District has provided Missaukee County residents a place to safely dispose of more than 7,649 pounds of hazardous materials through the Clean Sweep program.
What is MAEAP?
The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) assists farmers to evaluate their entire operation and make sustainable management decisions that balance the environment, economic, and society’s needs. The program encourages individuals to take voluntary, proactive steps to protect Michigan’s water quality and, therefore, the quality of drinking water. On March 8, 2011, Governor Snyder signed legislation, now Public Acts 1 & 2 of 2011, codifying MAEAP into law. MAEAP is a pro-active, voluntary program that works with farmers on implementing effective land stewardship practices and helps producers identify and prevent agricultural pollution risks on their farms. MAEAP technicians work with farmers to evaluate their entire operation and encourage sustainable, science-based management decisions that balance environmental, economic, and social factors. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) conducts a confidential on-farm inspection to verify program requirements related to applicable state and federal environmental regulations.
How Can I Become MAEAP Verified?
Being MAEAP verified indicates the farm has taken steps to address potential environmental risks and is in conformance with the Michigan Right to Farm Law and State/Federal environmental laws. To become MAEAP verified, farmers must complete three comprehensive steps: attend an education seminar, complete a thorough on-farm risk assessment, and develop and implement an action plan addressing potential environmental risks. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) conducts an on-farm inspection to verify program requirements related to applicable state and federal environmental regulations, including GAAMPs. To retain MAEAP verification, a farm must repeat all three steps including MDARD inspection every three years.
There are 20 farms currently MAEAP verified in Missaukee County, for a total of 41 systems (farmstead, cropping, livestock, and greenhouse) verified with a total of 24.286 acres enrolled!
What Are On-farm Risk Assessments?
The Missaukee Conservation District works closely with farmers to identify all environmental risks on the farmstead by completing a variety of confidential and voluntary detailed assessments. After potential risks are identified, the technician provides technical and educational assistance in order to address those risks, including Farm Bill conservation cost-share opportunities to implement stewardship practices.
Farm*A*Syst provides an environmental risk assessment of management practices, structures and site conditions on the farm to help producers identify and reduce risks to water resources.
Crop*A*Syst helps to develop and implement a management plan that prevents ground and surface water contamination in field crop and vegetable fields, fruit orchards, nursery crops, and Christmas tree farms.
Livestock*A*Syst assists livestock producers to identify risks to groundwater and/or surface water associated with their livestock operation. It is designed to meet the needs of livestock producers who are not ready to implement a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP).
Greenhouse*A*Syst is an environmental risk assessment tool suited to the unique aspects of greenhouse production. It assists greenhouse producers in identifying risks to water resources.
What is Emergency Farm Planning?
The Missaukee Conservation District works with producers to develop emergency plans to help ensure the safety of emergency responders, minimize property damage, protect family members and employees, and protect the environment should an emergency occur. The plan includes an overview of the property, highlighting storage areas, buildings, utilities and sensitive areas such as wells and surface water. It also includes a listing of emergency contact telephone numbers, information on hazardous and flammable substances stored on the farm and manure handling information for livestock farms. A copy of vital information needed in the case of an emergency is stored in an Emergency Tube located on the farmstead. The tube is weather resistant and includes a reflective label for quick detection at night.
What is the Clean Sweep program?
Clean Sweep is a service designed to collect, package and dispose of unused or unwanted pesticides, mercury, and pharmaceuticals properly and safely. Storing unusable pesticides represents an unnecessary risk to many including firefighters, children, pets, and the environment. Natural resources including soil, groundwater, and surface water can become contaminated if a spill occurs on the farm. A total of 388 pounds of unused and unwanted pesticides, mercury, and pharmaceuticals was collected and properly disposed of during Missaukee Conservation District’s Clean Sweep held on June 2, 2012 . Over the past twelve years, the Missaukee Conservation District has provided Missaukee County residents a place to safely dispose of more than 7,649 pounds of hazardous materials through the Clean Sweep program.
