MAEAP – Agricultural Program | Van Buren Conservation District

Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is an innovative, proactive program that helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent or minimize agricultural pollution risks.

You can earn:

Recognition as a top steward in the community
Regulatory protections
Preferred consideration for technical assistance and cost share
An enduring sense of accomplishment and pride
Restricted Use Pesticide Credits

We promise:

The program is 100% confidential, guaranteed by state law
We will treat you and your business with respect
We will help you with the paperwork and the process
We will help your farm conformance with state and federal environmental laws and guidelines
We will help you leave a legacy for your children

MAEAP recognition is:

Achievable, Thousands of farms have earned this designation already
Something to be proud of a to showcase to your community

MAEAP provides educational, technical, and financial assistance to agricultural producers and landowners to identify and reduce erosion and runoff from private land into public waters, and reduce groundwater and surface water contamination risks.

The program encourages individuals to take voluntary, proactive steps to protect Michigan’s water quality and, therefore the quality of drinking water. Agricultural producers who participate in the program can become environmentally assured through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program.

The program includes four steps for agriculture producers:

Attend an educational workshop approved for Phase I certification or watch approved videos/webinars, and read articles to meet the education requirement. Online Educational Sessions Available.
Invite a local MAEAP technician to tour your farm. Van Buren County’s MAEAP Tech is Kyle Mead. Kyle can be reached at kyle.mead@mi.nacdnet.net or 269-657-4030×5.
Implement practices recommended by the MAEAP technician. Kyle will help you work through recommended management and practices on your farm, he will brain storm ideas, and provide resources for additional steps you may need. There may be cost-share options through the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Services Farmbill programs or with the Van Buren Conservation District.
Earn recognition for your work. When you are ready, you and Kyle will invite our local MAEAP Verifier to your farm for final verification. Farmers who earn MAEAP recognition will receive a sign to place on their farm.

MAEAP has four systems that address different aspects of the farm: Farmstead, Cropping, Livestock, and Forest, Wetlands & Habitat Systems. Each looks at different practices depending on site-specific management and production practices and associated risks. Farms can receive one or all of the System Verification.

Environmental Risk Assessments

Farmstead System – The Farmstead System Assessment (Farm*A*Syst) is an environmental risk assessment on any size, type, or commodity farm and of all management practices, structures, and site conditions at the farm headquarters. The assessment helps producers identify and reduce risks to both groundwater and surface water supplies. Evaluated practices within the Farm*A*Syst include; fuel storage, pesticide storage, fertilizer storage, and wellhead protection.
Cropping System – The Cropping System Assessment (Crop*A*Syst) reviews production practices that occur wherever crops are grown on the farm. It reviews risks associated with pesticide and nutrient application, erosion control, and record keeping. The Crop*A*Syst focuses on field-based activities such as water use, soil conservation, and nutrient management. This category applies to all crops grown in Michigan. These include field crops, vegetables, fruit orchards, greenhouse crops, and ornamental trees.
Livestock System – The Livestock System Assessment (Livestock*A*Syst) reviews practices related to livestock production activities. This includes nutrient management, manure storage, transfer and land application, record keeping, feed storage, erosion, and lot management. Livestock*A*Syst relates to all types of livestock produced on the farm regardless of the animal raised or their size.
Forest, Wetland & Habitat System – The Forest, Wetland, and Habitat System Assessment reviews management practices relating to areas on the farm with woodlands, wetland, and other types of managed habitats. This review looks at the management plans created for all of these land uses to promote and ensure sustainable practices are being implemented. This includes forest health, protecting air, water, and soil; and restoring habitat.

Additional Services

MAEAP Technician, Kyle Mead, demonstrates some features of an emergency spill kit

Soil Sampling – Soil testing is an important diagnostic tool to evaluate nutrient imbalances and understand plant growth. Borrow a soil probe and send in a Soil Test
Nitrate/Nitrite Well Water Screening
Irrigation Reporting – Landowners and Industries with the capacity to withdraw over 100,000 gallons per day (with one or combined sites) are required to report to the state the water withdrawals and water conservation practices of their pumps. Report your Water Use
Irrigation Scheduling – The process of determining when to irrigate and how much water to apply, based upon measurements or estimates of soil water or water used by the plant. Borrow irrigation scheduling equipment
Closing Abandoned Wells – Abandoned wells pose a health risk by acting as a conduit for contaminated surface water to move directly down to drinking water aquifers.
Emergency Farm Planning – Emergency plans provide vital information for farm workers, first responders, and other emergency service providers if an emergency occurs. The plans also assist producers with the important issue of agri-chemical and application equipment security. “Emergency Planning on the Farm”
Right to Farm Complaints – If you have received a Right to Farm Complaint about your farm Kyle can come out and evaluate your system and help with the resolution of any issues.
Assistance with Equipment Lending/Rental Program

Van Buren County MAEAP Verified Farms as of 3/1/19

8th Avenue Farm – Bob O’Brien – South Haven
A&A’s Little Red Shed Farm Market – Andrew Nesbitt – Lawton
Alaga Farms – Mike Alaga – Decatur
Arthur Thomas Farm – Art Thomas – Grand Junction
Badger Evergreen Nursery, LLC. – Lawrence Farm – Lawrence
Barry Baser Farm – Brad Baser – Bangor
Bautista Blueberry Farm – Pedro Bautista – Bangor
BMP Farms – Gayle Branch – Covert
Cardemon – True Blue Farms – Dennis and Shelly Hartmann – Grand Junction
Carol Baber Farm – Carol Baber – Covert
Cedar Creek Farms – Jason Hartmann – Covert
Cherry Bay Orchards – Kurt Dowd – Hartford
Chuck Felcyn Farm – Chuck Felcyn – Paw Paw
Cornerstone Ag Enterprises – Tom, Larry Bodtke and Kay Trevino – Grand Junction
Covert Farm – Blue Star Farms, Inc. – Tony Marr – Covert
Cronenwett Farms – Brian Cronenwett – Lawton
D&B Farms – Doug and Beth Kuhn – South Haven
D.L. Thomas Farm – Don and Laura Thomas – Covert
David Alcaraz Farm – David Alcaraz – Covert
De Leo Farm Produce – Doug De Leo – Bangor
DeGrandchamp’s Blueberry Farm – Joe, Mike, Bob, and Katelyn DeGrandchamp – Paw Paw
Dorr Farms – Charles Dorr – Lawrence
Douglas Tree Farm – Michael and Wendy Douglas – Bloomingdale
Dykhuis Farms, Inc. – South Haven
Egly Land & Cattle Co. – Bob Egly – Paw Paw
Ellis Farms – Mary Ellis – Grand Junction
Frego Farms – Jerry Frego – Paw Paw
Fritzs’ Farms, LLC – Dan Fitzstephens – Mattawan
Galen’s Blueberries – Karlis Galens – Covert
Gene Sahr Farm – Gene Sahr – Paw Paw
Hemenway Farm, LLC – Matt RIggs – Lawton
Holtzman Blueberries – Mark Holtzman family – South Haven
Heinze Farm – Holtzman Blueberries – Mark Holtzman family – South Haven
Hunt Farms – James and Coleman Hunt – Lawton
Hunter Family Farm – Kelly Vander Kley – Mattawan
Hunt’s Hillside, LLC – James and Michael Hunt – Lawton
Jackson Family Farm – Mike and Sally Jackson – Marcellus
Jones Farm – Gary Jones – Paw Paw
Jubilee Blueberry Farms, LLC – Russel and Cheryl Sullins – Bangor
Kovach Farm Moss Funnel Farms – Frank Corrado – Gobles
Lake Cora Vineyard – Bill Johnson – Paw Paw
Leduc Blueberries, LLC – Joe and Chantal Leduc – Paw Paw
M.B.M. Blueberry Farms, LLC – Mario Bronowicki – Bangor
Marcial Lorenzo Farm – Marcial Lorenzo – Covert
Matthew and Creela Hamlin Farm – Matthew and Creela Hamlin – Bangor
Maria Bautista Farm – Jeronimo Mendez – Bangor
Mill Creek Blueberry Farm, Inc. – Deborah & Bob Jones – Watervliet
Moss Funnel Farms – Frank Corrado – Bangor
Muvrin Farms – Joe Muvrin – Paw Paw
Overhiser Farm – True Blue Farms – Dennis and Shelly Hartmann – Grand Junction
Patrick E. Hartmann Farm – Patrick Hartmann – Grand Junction
Paul Rood Orchards – Paul Rood – Covert
Pine Lane Berry Farms, LLC – Scott Vincent and Jim Vanderkolk – South Haven
Paulette’s Potting Shed – Paulette and Al Rybarski – Decatur
R. & S. Blueberries, LLC – Mike Sullins – Bangor
Ray Vales – True Blue Farms – Dennis and Shelly Hartmann – Grand Junction
Red Arrow Dairy – Rudold DeJong and Keith Dykstra – Hartford
Roedger Bros. Farm – Rich Roedger – Covert
Blue J Farm – Roedger Bros Farm – Rich Roedger – Covert
Schultz Farms – Matthew Schultz – Decatur
Shades of Lavender Farm, LLC – Janene Rawlinson – Mattawan
Sigifredo Morales Farm – Sigifredo Morales – South Haven
Spicebush Creek Farms – Mike Hill – South Haven
Steadfast Farm, LLC – Brian Morga – South Haven
Steve & Anita Friend Farm – Anita Friend – Covert
Stokes Blueberry Farm, LLC – Megan Stokes – Grand Junction
Straight Line Red Angus – Mike and Casey Bozung – Bangor
Sunridge Farms – David Adent – Hartford
Tavolacci Blueberries – Sam Tavolacci – Watervliet
True Blue Farms – Dennis and Shelly Hartmann – Grand Junction
Valley View Farm of Bangor – Steven Otto – Bangor
Van Buren Conservation District – Hayden Woods – Kyle Mead – Paw Paw
Wendzel Farm – Blue Star Farms, Inc. – Tony Marr – South Haven
Windshadow Farm and Dairy, LLC – Ronald Klein – Bangor

Accomplishments & Environmental Outcomes

Through the efforts by producers like the Verified Farmers in Van Buren County, over 2,500 verifications have been completed in Michigan. These 2,500 verifications has saved 32,000-10 yard dump trucks of sediment from reaching water bodies each year and found that over 600,000 acres of land receiving pesticides have made applications under an approved Pest Management Plan. Along with sprays and sediment being controlled, there have also been 14,000 acres of filter strips installed and the amount of Phosphorus and Nitrogen reduced through the actions of MAEAP and it’s participants could have grown a 1/4 inch thick blanket of algae that could cover Houghton Lake (Houghton Lake is the largest inland lake in Michigan)

Information collected from MAEAP verified farms used to calculate environmental outcomes:

Acres included in a nutrient plan or CNMP     —   1,430,917
Linear feet of buffer/filter strips —-    —-    —–      2,57,520
Acres of cover crops    —     —     —    —    —     — 209,017
Acres of conservation tillage   —    — —      —   672,205
Acres of no-till, zone-till, or grass cover —    —     427,024
Number of gullies stabilized —      —    —    — 5,836
Feet of livestock exclusion from water bodies — 497,408
Size of silage pad (acres)   —     —    —    —    —    193
Acres of Pest Mangement Plans — — — — — 1,478,743

Sediment Reduced: 2,131,667 lbs
Phosphorus reduced: 3,545,971 lbs
Nitrogen reduced: 7,746,249 lbs

Related Partners & Resources

GROUNDWATER – Everyone’s Resource, Everyone’s Responsibility