A bill recently introduced by the Michigan Legislature supports the state’s land and water resources through the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program.
MAEAP is an innovative, proactive program that for more than 20 years has helped farms of all sizes and commodities voluntarily reduce agricultural pollution risks. Approximately 3,500 Michigan farms have completed nearly 6,000 on-farm verifications through MAEAP.
Sponsored by Sen. Kevin Daley, Senate Bill 494 would renew fertilizer and pesticide fees farmers and agribusinesses pay to adopt conservation practices. To date, the program’s helped farmers achieve environmental achievements through education and on-farm assistance to protect water quality.
A diverse community of agricultural and conservation organizations supports the bill.
Environmental Achievements of MAEAP-verified Farms
“This legislation was carefully crafted with input from farmers, commodity representatives, environmental groups, state agencies and others,” said Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bednarski. “It positions our farmers to continue improving how we care for the land and water to ensure we can continue farming it for generations to come.
“This enables us to continue providing nutritious and abundant food to Michigan families.”
The legislation seeks to:
- Continue the fertilizer and pesticide fees supporting this highly successful program that helps farmers adopt conservation practices
- Create additional funding sources for incentives to implement on-farm conservation and pollution prevention practices
- Expand research opportunities into practices that improve soil health, water quality, and economic impacts
- Clarify funding to support water quality monitoring, cleanup activities, and emergency response to prevent fertilizer or pesticide pollution
Look for updates from Michigan Farm Bureau and partner organizations in the coming weeks as the newly introduced bill awaits consideration by the Senate Agriculture Committee.