MAEAP Verifies 77 Farms in September 2018

For Immediate Release                                                 Media Contact: Jessy Sielski, 517-284-5725 or

November 15, 2018                                                                                 sielskij@michigan.gov

MAEAP Verifies 77 Farms in September

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is recognizing 77 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:

  • Adam & Allison Dauer, of Pittsford, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Forest, Wetlands, Habitat Systems
  • Adam and Nathan Thomas Farm, of Wheeler, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  • Arnett Farms, of Shepherd, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  • Arnett Farms, of Shepherd, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Art Michael Farm, of White Cloud, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Ben Ritter Farm, of Saginaw, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  • Berens Family Farm, of Allegan, as a verified farm in Cropping System
  • Black Locust Farms, LLC, of Stanton, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Brannans’ Hilltop Farms, LLC, of Lapeer, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Cheddar Rose Guernsey Farm, of Berrien Springs, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Crystal Vista Vineyard, LLC, of Thompsonville, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  • David Berg Farm, of Rapid River, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead, Forest, Wetlands, Habitat and Livestock Systems
  • DELS Farm, LLC, of St. Clair, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Delta Conservation District, Delta County Forest, of Cornell, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Delta Conservation District, Fuller Park, of Bark River, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Delta Conservation District, Pioneer Trail Park, of Gladstone, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Delta Conservation District, Rapid River Falls Park, of Rapid River, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Delta Conservation District, Sac Bay, of Garden, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Don Letherer Farm, of Pittsford, as a verified farm in Cropping and Livestock Systems
  • Double M Farms, of Elmira, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Dzurka Bros. Farm, of Pinconning, as a verified farm in Cropping System
  • Eager Farms, Inc., of Brown City, as a verified farm in Cropping System
  • Fitzs’ Farms, LLC, of Mattawan, as a verified farm in Cropping (Greenhouse) and Farmstead (Greenhouse) Systems
  • Garrison Farms, of Adrian, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  • Glen Oaks Community College, Glen Oaks Farm, of Sturgis, as a verified farm in Farmstead System
  • Great Lakes Greenhouses, Pure Meadow Farms, of Kalamazoo, as a verified farm in Cropping (Greenhouse), Farmstead (Greenhouse) and Livestock Systems
  • Greenfield AG, LLC, of Unionville, as a verified farm in Cropping System
  • Grey Grouse Camp, of Manistique, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Haist Farm, of Caro, as a verified farm in Cropping System
  • Hand Sown Farm, LLC, of Manchester, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  •  Haywire Grade – Parcel 1 (120), of Manistique, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Haywire Grade – Parcel 2 (308), of Manistique, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Homegrown Farm, Field & Forest, LLC, of Lapeer, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead, and Livestock Systems
  • Hyatt Family Blueberries, of Whitehall, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  • Jackson Family Farm, of Marcellus, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Jeff and T.J. Conklin Farms, of Marcellus, as a verified farm in Cropping System
  • Jeff Furness Farms, of Yale, as a verified farm in Farmstead System
  • Ken Landsburg Farm, of Sandusky, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Kies Farm, LLC, of Allen, as a verified farm in Cropping System
  • Lindisfarne Farm, LLC, of Tipton, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Locke Farm – Forest Acres, of Cassopolis, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • M. H. Koenn Farms, LLC, of Chelsea, as a verified farm in Cropping and Livestock Systems
  • Mason Farms, Inc., of Blissfield, as a verified farm in Cropping System
  • Mihills Farms, of Jones, as a verified farm in Cropping System
  • Morrison Orchards, of Fremont, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  • Moss Lake, of Nahma Township, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Muskegon Family Care Urban Farmacy, of Muskegon Heights, as a verified farm in Cropping System
  • Nordgren Family Property, of Cornell, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Orr Farms, of Charlotte, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  • Reid Dairy Farm, of Jeddo, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Runaway Meadows, of Gladwin, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Ryan Hunter – H Farms Nursery, of Schoolcraft, as a verified farm in Livestock System
  • Ryan Hunter – Hunter Nursery – CAFO, of Vicksburg, as a verified farm in Livestock System
  • Ryan Hunter – Island Acres, of Marcellus, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Ryan Hunter – KY 10 Farms, LLC, of Fulton, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Ryan Hunter – Lucky 7 Farms, LLC, of Kalamazoo, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Ryan Hunter – Makin Bacon LLC-CAFO, of Centreville, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Ryan Hunter – Payla Meadows, of Vicksburg, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  •  Ryan Hunter – R & R Pork, of Sturgis, as a verified farm in Livestock System
  • Ryan Hunter – Schoolcraft Farms Nursery, of Three Rivers, as a verified farm in Livestock System
  • Ryan Hunter – Senior Pork (formerly P & K Farms), of Three Rivers, as a verified farm in Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Seedling Home Farm, of South Haven, as a verified farm in Farmstead System
  • Smith Lake, of Manistique, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Snails Pace Farms, of Allegan, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Stanek Cornell Property, of Cornell, as a verified farm in Forest, Wetlands, Habitat System
  • Sunrise Acres, Plant 1 – 3, of Hudsonville, as a verified farm in Livestock System
  • Sunrise Acres, Plant 2 (All on one ver form), of Hudsonville, as a verified farm in Livestock System
  • Sunrise Acres, Plant 3 (All on one ver form), of Hudsonville, as a verified farm in Livestock System
  • Sweet Serendipity Farm, of Metamora, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Thimbleweed Farm, of Burlington, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  • Thistle Dew Dairy, of Vassar, as a verified farm in Cropping, Farmstead and Livestock Systems
  • Thomas and Janie Woelmer, of Monroe, as a verified farm in Cropping, Cropping (Greenhouse) and Farmstead (Greenhouse) Systems
  • Timmer Family Farm, of Holland, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  • ValleyHub, of Kalamazoo, as a verified farm in Cropping (Greenhouse) and Farmstead (Greenhouse) Systems
  • Warren Orchards, LLC – Main Site, of Traverse City, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems
  • Warren Orchards, LLC – Site 2, of Traverse City, as a verified farm in Farmstead System
  • West Michigan Hops Farm, LLC, of Holland, as a verified farm in Cropping and Farmstead Systems

“These 77 farms represent the agricultural community’s commitment to a sustainable environment,” said MDARD Director Gordon Wenk. “By taking the steps necessary to become MAEAP verified, farmers continue to be excellent stewards of their land. The success of the program demonstrates how the agricultural community comes together to protect our land and water quality.”

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 risk. 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 MAEAP verified 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.