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MAEAP celebrates 5,000 verifications

Michigan’s voluntary environmental stewardship program has reached 5,000 verifications.

Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance program manager Joe Kelpinski tells Brownfield interest in the nation’s first voluntary farm stewardship program exploded after it was codified into law in 2011.

“At that point in time, our growth just exploded.  The legislative certainties that came with being MAEAP verified added a lot of confidence for farmers that the program was going to be around.”     

Michigan Department of Ag director at Gary McDowell says the program is adaptable for all sizes and types of farm and will remain a priority at the state level.

“Our next goal is 6,000 and we’re really going to try to get that done as quickly as possible.  Governor Whitmer—this is one of her priorities, clean water.”

Kelpinski says Missouri and Wisconsin are just some of the other states who have used MAEAP as a model stewardship program over the last 20 years.

Both spoke with Brownfield during Thursday’s 5000^th MAEAP verification celebration in Lansing.