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MAEAP petition calls for legislative support

Michigan Farm Bureau is asking farmers and anyone interested in supporting voluntary stewardship measures on farms to sign their petition calling for continuation the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program.

MAEAP program manager Joe Kelpinski tells Brownfield while the program has been operating for nearly two decades, it’s seen the most significant growth in the last 10 years after it was codified into law.

“We are currently at 6,000 verifications, we have about 1.1 million acres of farmland with a current verification within the program,” he says.

The petition is calling for Michigan’s legislature to continue helping farms voluntarily reduce agricultural pollution risks through education and on-farm assistance by supporting Senate Bill 494 to renew the fees paid by farmers and agribusinesses to support the program.