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Michigan’s voluntary stewardship program sets national example

The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Services says Michigan’s voluntary stewardship program can be a role model for other states. 

Chief Matt Lohr tells Brownfield NRCS and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program share the same vision: to implement voluntary conservation practices.

“I think some of these programs are really great on paper but it’s hard to get farmers really motivated.  I’m looking forward to today and learning more about MAEAP.”  

Rebecca Davis, the third generation of Pfander Farms, says they became the first farm to be verified in 2002 and have remained committed to protecting the environment.

“Since we’ve become involved, we’ve actually moved some of our pigs that were outside inside and part of that was an environmental adjustment because we can’t control the manure as well.”

Thirteen of the earliest farms including Pfanders were honored for maintaining their verification as part of the 5000^th MAEAP verification celebration in Lansing.