On Dec. 3, we got a thumbs-up from the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), joining more than 1,600 farms to become certified. A nationally recognized program, MAEAP helps Michigan farmers adopt effective, science-based practices that reduce environmental risks and protect our state’s land, water and wildlife.
The program is voluntary and delivered through a partnership between the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and local conservation districts (in our case, the Berrien County Conservation District). MAEAP provides education, technical assistance and third-party verification across four areas: farmstead, cropping, livestock, and forest, wetlands and habitats. To earn certification, participants must implement recommended best management practices and pass an on-site inspection by an MAEAP verifier.
“This verification recognizes the foundation’s commitment to land stewardship and ensures we’re following the best practices possible when it comes to protecting our land and water,” says Jarod Reibel, the foundation’s director of physical resources.
(In photo from left: Owen Rice, Jarod Reibel, Josh Appleby, an MAEAP verifier for MDARD, Emily Kerlikowske, an MAEAP technician for the Berrien County Conservation District.)