MAEAP
MAEAP
Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program
This program is free and voluntary. Everything we learn about your farm is 100% confidential. This is guaranteed by state law.
Farmers who earn MAEAP recognition will receive a sign to display on their farm. This sign will show that you are a top steward in your community. You may also benefit from regulatory protections and be at an advantage for additional expert help and cost share. Above all, you will earn an enduring sense of pride and accomplishment for your work.
Click the button to schedule a free and 100% confidential visit with your local MAEAP
technician to discuss whether this voluntary program is right for you.
Contact MAEAP
You can earn:
- Recognition as a top steward in the community
- Regulatory protections
- Preferred consideration for technical assistance and cost share
- An enduring sense of accomplishment and pride
We promise:
- The program is 100% confidential, guaranteed by state law
- We will treat you and your business with respect
- We will help you with the paperwork and red tape
- We will help you leave a legacy for your children
MAEAP recognition is:
- Achievable. Farms have earned more than 5000 verifications across the state
- Something to be proud of. You can be among the top 5% of farms who have earned this designation so far.
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, Wetl ands, and Habitat.
The program includes four steps:
Learn
Attend a workshop or schedule a private meeting to learn if MAEAP 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. This technician will explain the program and recommend practical steps you can take to reduce erosion and runoff into public waters.
Everything the technician learns about your farm will remain confidential and will not be shared with your competition or environmental regulators.
Implement
Do the work at your own pace. Our MAEAP technicians are here to help you every step of the way. A technician will 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 the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. A verifier from MDARD will visit your farm to ensure the recommended practices are in place and address erosion and runoff risks on your land. When the work is done, we will give you a sign to place on your farm and send you a certificate signed by the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Meet your MAEAP Technicians
Cody Christensen, MAEAP Technician
Mecosta Conservation District
18260 Northland Drive
Big Rapids, MI 49307
Phone: 989-304-1613
Osceola-Lake - Contact Brandi Mitchell
Brandi Mitchell, MAEAP Technician
Osceola-Lake Conservation District
138 W. Upton, Suite #2
Reed City, MI 49677
Phone: 231-465-8005