MAEAP Verified 53 Farms in August

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is recognizing 53 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:

  • Battle Creek Public Schools’ Outdoor Education Center at Clear Lake Camp, of Dowling, as a verified farm in the Farmstead and Livestock Systems.
  • L.D.K. Farms, of Quincy, as a verified farm in the Farmstead System.
  • Bluestem Pond, of Cassopolis, as a verified farm in the Cropping, Farmstead, and Livestock Systems.
  • Boyne Valley Vineyards, LLC, of Boyne City, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • The Lavender Project, LLC—Lavender Hill Farm, of Boyne City, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • Hebron Hillbilly Farms, of Cheboygan, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • Metrish’s Christmas Tree Farm, of Sault Ste. Marie, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • Butterfly Garden Farm, of Sault Ste. Marie, as a verified farm in the Cropping, Farmstead, and Livestock Systems.
  • Home Property, of Rock, as a verified farm in the Cropping, Farmstead, Livestock, and Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat Systems.
  • Porath Dairy Farm, of Bark River, as a verified farm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System.
  • Houle’s Property, of Bark River, as a verified farm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System.
  • Detla Conservation District—Gladstone Marsh, of Gladstone, as a verified farm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System.
  • A & S Farms, of Charlotte, as a verified farm in the Farmstead and Livestock Systems.
  • Open Sky Organic Farm, of Pellston, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • Charles Stimson Farm, of Riverdale, as a verified farm in the Cropping System.
  • Hudson Dairy, LLC, of Hudson, as a verified farm in the Livestock System.
  • Gagetownn State Game Area, of Gagetown, as a verified farm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System.
  • Rush Lake State Game Area, of Caseville, as a verified farm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System.
  • Steve Lott Farm, Inc., of Mason, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • Twelve Oaks Farm, of Webberville, as a verified farm in the Cropping System.
  • MSU Clarksville Research Center, of Clarksville, as a verified farm in the Cropping System.
  • Woodland Farm, of Clare, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Livestock Systems.
  • House Enterprises, Inc., of Clare, as a verified farm in the Farmstead System.
  • Engler Dairy Farm, Inc., of Mt. Pleasant, as a verified farm in the Farmstead System.
  • Solon Farm, LLC, of Clifford, as a verified farm in the Farmstead System.
  • Byrdee Farms, of Otter Lake, as a verified farm in the Farmstead and Livestock Systems.
  • Medina Dairy, LLC, of Hudson, as a verified farm in the Farmstead and Livestock Systems.
  • Ottenbacher Farms, of Lenox, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • Manistee Conservation District Property, of Kaleva, as a verified farm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System.
  • Iron Fish Distillery, of Thompsonville, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • Gold Coast Hops, LLC, of Ludington, as a verified farm in the Cropping System.
  • The Pentwater Patch, of Ludington, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • Miller Family Farm, of Carney, as a verified farm in the Cropping (Greenhouse), Farmstead (Greenhouse), and Livestock Systems.
  • Hannahville Indian School, of Wilson, as a verified farm in the Cropping (Greenhouse), Farmstead (Greenhouse), and Livestock Systems.
  • Happy Day Acres, of Twin Lake, as a verified farm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System.
  • Morgan’s Family Farm, of Big Rapids, as a verified farm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat Systems.
  • Michael Bouwkamp Farms, of Grant, as a verified farm in the Farmstead System.
  • Snow Valey, of Reed City, as a verified farm in the Cropping, Farmstead, and Livestock Systems.
  • 100th Avenue Farm—Scot Boyd Farms, of Evart, as a verified farm in the Farmstead and Livestock Systems.
  • Stoney Acres, of Fairview, as a verified farm in the Farmstead System.
  • 70th Avenue Farm—Boyd Farms, LLC, of Evart, as a verified farm in the Farmstead and Livestock Systems.
  • 40th Avenue Farm—Boyd Farms, LLC, of Sears, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • Ken Barden Property, of Gaylord, as a verified farm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System.
  • Applequest, Inc., of Conklin, as a verified arm in the Cropping System.
  • Sanilac State Game Area, of Ubly, as a verified farm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System.
  • Kent Barden Property—Camp One, of Gulliver, as a verified arm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System.
  • Wronski Farm, of Wales, as a verified farm in the Cropping System.
  • Sulkowski and Sons Farm, LLC, of Goodells, as a verified farm in the Cropping System.
  • James Racz Farm, of Clyde, as a verified farm in the Livestock System.
  • Villa-Miller Farms, of Constantine, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • Hubbard Farms, of Three Rivers, as a verified farm in the Farmstead System.
  • Rayl Farms, Inc., of Akron, as a verified farm in the Cropping and Farmstead Systems.
  • Cass City State Game area, of Cass City, as a verified farm in the Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System.

“By taking the steps necessary to become an environmentally verified operation, these 53 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 8,000 Michigan farmers attend educational programs annually, 10,000 Michigan farms have started the verification process and more than 3,300 farms have been verified 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.

MAEAP is a multi-year program allowing producers to meet personal objectives, while best managing both time and resources. The program encompasses three 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 three systems, producers can comprehensively evaluate their entire farming operation for potential environmental risks.

For more information, visit the MAEAP website at www.maeap.org, contact your local conservation district, or contact Joe Kelpinski, MDARD’s MAEAP Program Manager, at 517-284-5608.