Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)
Water pollution comes from many sources, and some of it comes from farms. That's why Mason-Lake Conservation District is standing by to help you enroll in the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)
MAEAP helps farmers adopt cost-effective practices that reduce erosion and runoff into ponds, streams, and rivers. This, in turn, helps farmers comply with state and federal laws. MAEAP is a voluntary program. We recognize and reward top stewards of the land. This is a state program delivered by conservation districts, local leaders you know. MAEAP is open to any Michigan farmer. There are four categories of recognition: 1) Cropping, 2) Livestock, 3) Farmstead, and 4) Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat.
Introduction to MAEAP Playlist
The program includes four steps:
Learn
Attend a workshop or schedule a private meeting to learn if MAEAP is right for you. Alternately, you can review educational materials on the MAEAP website at your own pace.
Farm and Visit Recommendations
Invite a MAEAP technician to tour your farm. This technician will explain the program and recommend practical steps you can take to reduce erosion and runoff into public waters.
Everything the technician learns about your farm will remain confidential and will not be shared with your competition or environmental regulators.
Implement
Do the work at your own pace. Our MAEAP technicians are here to help you every step of the way. A technician will help you develop your plan of action, and fill out paperwork. He or she will also steer you to cost share and expert help, if you want.
Recognition
Once the work is complete, you can contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. A verifier from MDARD will visit your farm to ensure the recommended practices are in place and address erosion and runoff risks on your land. When the work is done, we will give you a sign to place on your farm and send you a certificate signed by the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The Mason-Lake Conservation District offers a cost-share program to help farmers in Mason, Manistee, and Western Lake Counties implement practices that support MAEAP (Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program) verification. This program provides 50% reimbursement for eligible expenses, up to $500 per producer. Funds can help cover a range of conservation practices, such as fuel transfer pads, vegetative buffers, soil and water testing, and well closures. The goal is to reduce environmental risk and protect Michigan’s soil and water.
Cost-Share Program
For additional information on practices that are included in the cost share and to view the application, click here.
What MAEAP-Recognized Farmers Say
Art Lister
Lister Orchards
"A big advantage of the MAEAP program is that it’ is a proactive approach to work with producers. I want to know that I am doing everything I can to protect the environment, and this assures me that I am doing just that."
Pete Conrad
Conrad Farms Inc.
“The MAEAP program has added value to our farm. Reassurance that we are being great stewards of our farm’s resources has been a major part of this value.”
Gary Dittmer
Dittmer Farms
“When you get into the program, you find that you’re already doing 80-90% of the things you should be doing. It is a good thing for farms to show the community.”