- 5:00 pm Meeting location: Farm View Resort, 6700 N. US-31 Hwy. Free Soil, MI 49411
- Welcome, staff introductions, and an overview of the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)
– Jamie VanDerZanden, Mason-Lake CD
- 5:10 pm Catered Dinner by Shandy’s Catering, LLC
- 5:40 pm In-Meal Farm Service Agency (FSA) Presentation
- Overview of USDA programs available to assist farmers—Benita Meekhof, FSA Farm Loans – Shelly Lobert, FSA
- Load school buses to depart for Stakenas Farms
- 6:05 pm Forage Management
- A news update and overview of forage management, including pest management, forage quality, and nutritive value – Seth Earl, NRCS
- 6:25 pm Manure and Water Management on a Dairy Farm
- Management practices implemented on a MAEAP verified dairy farm, that helps protect the water sources and environment
– Bill Stakenas, Stakenas Farms
- 6:55 pm Watershed and Wildlife Conservation
- Focus on linking watershed protection and developing wildlife habitat
– Jake Crawford, Mason-Lake CD
Load school buses to depart to Needlefast
- 7:20 pm Needlefast Evergreens, Inc.
- Planting, managing pests and diseases, and harvesting Christmas Trees on a MAEAP verified farm—Ben Nickelson, Needlefast Evergreens, Inc.
- 8: 00 pm Depart to Farm View for dessert and to fill out RUP credits