MAEAP Sign-up Easy with New Progressive Planning Program
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Over the last several years, many Michigan farmers have wondered why they could not simply “sign up” for the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). Others thought that attendance at a MAEAP Phase I education session was the equivalent to signing up for MAEAP. The confusion is about to end.
Starting in January 2004, MAEAP began to implement what is known as Progressive Planning, which will give ALL Michigan farmers the opportunity to “sign up for MAEAP.”
Progressive Planning is the step-by-step achievement of environmental protection. It’s a process that enables producers to remain economically viable while progressing toward the attainment of individual environmental objectives. In short, Progressive Planning allows producers to plan over time how they are going to meet the requirements for MAEAP verification on their own terms.
Another producer benefit of Progressive Planning is being connected to a local MAEAP resource person. Prior, the only contact a producer might have had with the MAEAP program was through the education session at the beginning or the verification process at the program’s end. Progressive Planning changes that.
After signing up for MAEAP participation, producers will work with a local MAEAP partner, such as a Michigan State University Extension agent, MAEAP technician, local conservation district, Michigan Milk Producers field staff or Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) regional representative, to implement Progressive Planning. The local MAEAP partner will act as a clearinghouse of information, assist in any resource needs, and answer any questions that come up along the way.
“Through Progressive Planning, producers will have that local person to call whenever they need something, and we will be able to do a better job of assisting producers through the implementation phase of MAEAP,” explained Megan Wheaton, Michigan Farm Bureau Agricultural Ecology Specialist.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) that have
not had a regulated discharge and choose to do the MAEAP Livestock System
in lieu of applying for coverage under the NPDES CAFO General Permit,
must also submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ). Application deadline is September 1, 2005.
For more information about Progressive Planning, call Michigan Farm Bureau’s
Megan Wheaton at (517) 323-7000, ext. 2026, or Michigan Department of
Agriculture’s Jan Wilford at (517) 241-4730.
Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering
Michigan State University
A.W. Farrall Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1323
(517) 355-4720
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December 3, 2004
