LANSING — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program is recognizing 21 farms for implementing appropriate pollution prevention practices.

The program assists farmers to comply with state and federal environmental regulations and with “Right to Farm” practices. Technical assistance was provided by local conservation districts.

Several farms and properties have been verified through the program, including:

• Paul Burns Farm, of Cassopolis, as a verified farm in cropping system

• Stamp Farm, of Jones, as a verified farm in livestock system

• Redfield/Bucklen Farms — FWH Site, of Edwardsburg, as a verified farm in forest, wetlands, habitat system

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program also recognized:

• Adam’s Farm, of Free Soil, as a verified farm in forest, wetlands, habitat system

• Autenrieth Family Farm, of Elmira, as a verified farm in cropping, farmstead, and livestock systems

• Davis Farms, of White Pigeon, as a verified farm in livestock system

• Goma Dairy Farm, of Marlette, as a verified farm in cropping, farmstead, and livestock systems

• Greydale Farms, of Detroit, as a verified farm in cropping and farmstead systems

• Harter Farm, of Rudyard, as a verified farm in cropping and farmstead systems

• Herrygers Farms LLC, of Hart, as a verified farm in cropping and farmstead systems

• Herrygers Farms LLC, Shelby Farm, of Shelby, as a verified farm in cropping system

• Holladay Farms, LLC, of Hart, as a verified farm in cropping, farmstead, and livestock systems

• Huggard Vineyard, of Ludington, as a verified farm in cropping and farmstead systems

• Joe and Diane Kautz, of Croswell, as a verified farm in cropping and farmstead systems

• Joe and Stacey Kautz Farm, of Croswell, as a verified farm in cropping and farmstead systems

• LaCross Farms, of Cedar, as a verified farm in cropping and farmstead systems

• Nally’s Greenhouse, of Kalamazoo, as a verified farm in cropping(greenhouse) and farmstead(greenhouse) systems

• Old Barn Farm (Balcom Farm), of Roscommon, as a verified farm in cropping and livestock systems

• Old Granary Inc., of Romulus, as a verified farm in cropping system

• Speaker Lone Oak Orchard LLC, of Melvin, as a verified farm in cropping and farmstead systems

• Wm Burmeister Farms Inc., of Shelby, as a verified farm in cropping and farmstead systems

“By taking the steps necessary to become an environmentally verified operation, these 21 farms have contributed to the assurance of sustainable farming practices,” said MDARD Director Jamie Clover Adams. “Michigan is leading the national agriculture community in effective stewardship practices with the voluntary, incentive-based MAEAP program. The continued success of the program demonstrates that environmental sustainability and economic development are not mutually exclusive.”

MAEAP is a collaborative effort of farmers, MDARD, Michigan Farm Bureau, commodity organizations, universities, conservation districts, conservation and environmental groups and state and federal agencies.  More than 100 local coordinators and technical service providers are available to assist farmers as they move through the MAEAP process toward verification. An average of 5,000 Michigan farmers attend educational programs annually, 10,000 Michigan farms have started the verification process and over 4,000 verifications to date.

To become MAEAP verified, farmers must complete three comprehensive steps which include attending an educational seminar, conducting a thorough on-farm risk assessment, and developing and implementing an action plan addressing potential environmental risks. MDARD conducts an on‑farm inspection to verify program requirements related to applicable state and federal environmental regulations, Michigan Right to Farm guidelines, and adherence to an action plan. When completed, the producer receives a certificate of environmental assurance. To remain a MAEAP verified farm, inspections must be conducted every five years and action steps must be followed.

In March of 2011, Gov. Rick Snyder signed Senate Bill 122 and House Bill 4212, now Public Acts 1 and 2 of 2011, to codify the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program into law.

MAEAP is a multi-year program allowing producers to meet personal objectives, while best managing both time and resources. The program encompasses four systems designed to help producers evaluate the environmental risks of their operation. Each system — livestock, farmstead, cropping and forest, wetlands and habitat — examines a different aspect of a farm, as each has a different environmental impact. By participating in all four systems, producers can comprehensively evaluate their entire farming operation for potential environmental risks.

For more information, visit the MAEAP website at maeap.org or contact Joe Kelpinski, MDARD’s MAEAP program manager, at (517) 284-5608.