MAEAP Verfies 76 Farms in August | Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is recognizing 76 farms for implementing appropriate pollution prevention practices. The program assists farmers to comply with state and federal environmental regulations and with Right to Farm practices. Technical assistance was provided by local Conservation Districts.

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program recognized:

Blonde Family Show Pigs of Litchfield as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
Bird’s Suburban Orchardof Holt as a verified farm in Farmstead and Cropping Systems
K & K Farms, Group, LLC of Suttons Bay, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Cropping Systems
Sweeten Farm, LLC of Dafter, as a verified farm in Farmstead, Cropping, and Livestock System
Duane Beauchamp Camp of Bark River, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Rolling Dice Meadows of Branch, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Cropping Systems
Glimn’s Farm of Bark River, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Allan Lewis Homestead of Perronville, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Lewis Spruce of Amasa, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Wery Property – Gourley Acres of Carney, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Jaquays Farm – Site 2 of Coral, as a verified farm in Farmstead System
Poulsen Farms of Trufant, as a verified farm in Cropping System
Sweet Farms of Deckerville, as a verified farm in Cropping and Livestock Systems
Lenon Forest of Arcadia, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Howard Tree Farm of Perry, as a verified farm in Cropping System
Rick Duerson Homestead of Rapid River, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Schwalm Farm, LLC of Reed City, as a verified farm in Farmstead, Cropping and Livestock Systems
Dewey Hill Hunt Club of Wells Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Pike Lake Property of Garden Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Camp Big Buck of Wells Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Bill Picken Farm of Dundee, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
Woodland View of Rapid River, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Maple Ridge of Maple Ridge Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Harris Family Camp of Masonville Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Camp Deer Hyde of Ford River Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Vandeville – Harris Property of Masonville Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Oleoacres, LLC of Masonville Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
John Adams Camp of Hiawatha Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Benish Camp of Manistique, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Log Haven Homestead of Manistique, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Little Lake Lodge of Wetmore, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Peter Shupe Farm of Bad Axe, as a verified farm in Livestock System
Urban Property of Hiawatha Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Videtich Homestead of Manistique, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Bart’s Hunting Camp of Doyle Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Bergman Camp of Doyle Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Diamon View Farm of White Cloud, as a verified farm in Farmstead, Cropping, and Livestock Systems
Gardner Property of Gulliver, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Hillpasture Farm of Jonesville, as a verified farm in Farmstead, Cropping, and Livestock Systems
Johnson Camp of Mueller Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Rondeau’s Ruff Acres of Cooks, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Charlie Schroeder Farm of Reading, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
Hinkson Homegrown of Manistique as a verified farm in Farmstead, Cropping, and Livestock Systems
Jennings Farm of Swartz Creek, as a verified farm in Cropping System
Leah Vineyards of Watervliet, as a verified farm in Cropping System
Depcinski Farms, LLC of Cass City, as a verified farm in Cropping System
Pauline’s Farm of Ludington, as a verified farm in Livestock System
Miller Hop Farm of Scottville, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Cropping Systems
Roto-Z Dairy, LLC of Snover, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
Mar-Ray Farm of Unionville, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Cropping Systems
Redfield/Bucklen Farms – Site 1 of Edwardsburg, as a verified farm in Farmstead System
Redfield/Bucklen Farms – Site 2 of Edwardsburg, as a verified farm in Farmstead System
Calvin Creek Farms of Cassopolis, as a verified farm in Livestock System
Dussel Farms of Cassopolis, as a verified farm in Cropping and Livestock Systems
Post Family Farm, LLC of Hudsonville, as a verified farm in Livestock System
A-Mazing Acres of Edwardsburg, as a verified farm in Farmstead, Cropping and Livestock Systems
Cori Miller Farm of Reese, as a verified farm in Cropping System
Beldyga Farm of Chesaning, as a verified farm in Cropping System
Camp Haul-Ye-Wood of Ewing Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Kirby Home Property of Cornell, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Kirby Tree Farm of Ewing Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Kirby Camp of Ewing Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Zmitko Farms – Post 100 of Owosso, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Marsh Haven Farms of Davison, as a verified farm in Cropping and Livestock Systems
Wilson Farm of Clifford, as a verified farm in Farmstead, Cropping and Livestock Systems
Schemenauer Farms of Bangor, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Cropping Systems
Schemenauer Farms of Bangor, as a verified farm in Cropping System
Arthur Thomas Farm of Grand Junction, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Cropping Systems
Lister Orchards – Hamlin Block of Ludington, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Cropping Systems
Stoney Acres of Fairview, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
Wangler & Sons Farms of West Branch, as a verified farm in Cropping System
Carrousel Farm of Buckley, as a verified farm in Cropping and Livestock Systems
James Cornillie Farm of Byron, as a verified farm in Cropping and Forest, Wetlands, Habitat Systems
Happy Day Farm of Bark River, as a verified farm in Farmstead, Cropping, and Livestock Systems
Seeds & Spores Family Farm of Marquette, as a verified farm in Farmstead, Cropping, and Livestock Systems
Craig Howard Farm of Byron, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Cropping Systems

“By taking the steps necessary to become an environmentally verified operation, these 76 farms have contributed to the assurance of sustainable farming practices,” said MDARD Director Jamie Clover Adams. “Michigan is leading the national agriculture community in effective stewardship practices with the voluntary, incentive-based MAEAP program. The continued success of the program demonstrates that environmental sustainability and economic development are not mutually exclusive.”

MAEAP is a collaborative effort of farmers, MDARD, Michigan Farm Bureau, commodity organizations, universities, conservation districts, conservation and environmental groups and state and federal agencies. More than 100 local coordinators and technical service providers are available to assist farmers as they move through the MAEAP process toward verification. An average of 5,000 Michigan farmers attend educational programs annually, 10,000 Michigan farms have started the verification process and over 4,000 verifications to date.

To become MAEAP verified, farmers must complete three comprehensive steps which include attending an educational seminar, conducting a thorough on-farm risk assessment, and developing and implementing an action plan addressing potential environmental risks. MDARD conducts an on‑farm inspection to verify program requirements related to applicable state and federal environmental regulations, Michigan Right to Farm guidelines, and adherence to an action plan. When completed, the producer receives a certificate of environmental assurance. To remain a MAEAPverified farm, inspections must be conducted every five years and action steps must be followed.

In March of 2011, Governor Rick Snyder signed Senate Bill 122 and House Bill 4212, now Public Acts 1 and 2 of 2011, to codify the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program into law.

MAEAP is a multi-year program allowing producers to meet personal objectives, while best managing both time and resources. The program encompasses four systems designed to help producers evaluate the environmental risks of their operation. Each system – Livestock, Farmstead, Cropping, and Forest, Wetlands and Habitat – examines a different aspect of a farm, as each has a different environmental impact. By participating in all four systems, producers can comprehensively evaluate their entire farming operation for potential environmental risks.

For more information, visit the MAEAP website at https://www.maeap.org or contact Joe Kelpinski, MDARD’s MAEAP Program Manager, at (517)284-5608.