Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)
Water pollution comes from many sources, and some of it comes from farms. That's why Oceana Conservation District is here to help you enroll in the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). This program offers assistance and recognition to farmers who reduce erosion and runoff from private land into public waters.
This program is free and voluntary. Everything we learn about your farm is 100% confidential.
YOU CAN EARN:
Recognition as a top steward in the community
Regulatory protections
Preferred consideration for technical assistance and cost share
A sense of pride and accomplishment
WE PROMISE:
The program is 100% confidential—this is guaranteed by state law
To treat you and your business with respect
To help you with the paperwork and red tape
We will help you leave a legacy for your children
RECOGNITION IS:
Achievable. More than 5,000 farms have earned this designation so far
Something to be proud of. You can be among the top 5% of farms who have earned this designation
MAEAP helps farmers adopt cost-effective practices that reduce erosion and runoff into ponds, streams, and rivers. This, in turn, helps farmers comply with state and federal laws. MAEAP is a voluntary program. We recognize and reward top stewards of the land. This is a state program delivered by conservation districts, local leaders you know. MAEAP is open to any Michigan farmer. There are four categories of recognition: 1) Cropping, 2) Livestock, 3) Farmstead, and 4) Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat.
The program includes four steps:
LEARN
Attend a qualified meeting, workshop or field day to learn about the program, what it entails, and if the program is right for you. Alternately, you can review educational materials on the MAEAP website at your own pace.
FARM VISIT & RECOMMENDATIONS
Invite a MAEAP technician to tour your farm. The technician will recommend steps to take to reduce erosion and runoff into public waters. Everything the technician learns about your farm remains confidential and will not be shared with environmental regulators.
IMPLEMENT
Do the work at your own pace. Our MAEAP technician is here to help you every step of the way. We can help you develop your plan of action and fill out paperwork. He or she will also steer you to cost share and expert help if you want.
RECOGNITION
Once the work is complete, you can contact Michigan Dept. of Ag & Rural Development. A verifier from MDARD will visit your farm to ensure the recommended practices are in place. When the work is done, we will give you a sign to place on your farm and send you a certificate.
What MAEAP-Recognized Farmers Say
“Being a good steward of what has been given is a blessed command. We see stewardship as a gift to others—our neighbors, our friends and our children. We believe that sustainability and land stewardship is at the heart of the MAEAP verification.”
“My dad had great respect for the land. We’re only temporary tenants. We don’t own this land. Somebody will have it after us, so it’s up to us to take the best care of it we can.”
“MAEAP holds us accountable to be better stewards for the land and resources we’ve been given. It allows us to ensure the next generation has the same or better opportunities than we have.”
