Each season farmers face growing environmental challenges and the need to adopt more sustainable practices on their operation continues to rise.
Luckily, farmers seeking guidance along their journey in creating a more sustainable operation can turn to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP).
Responsible for promoting the growth and sustainability of the state's agricultural sector, MDARD is committed to supporting agricultural businesses, ensuring food safety and security, protecting animal and plant health, and promoting environmental stewardship. The department oversees various programs and initiatives related to agriculture, including crop and livestock inspection, pesticide regulation, food and dairy inspection, and promotion of local food systems. In collaboration efforts with farmers, industry stakeholders, and local community members, MDARD is working to advance Michigan's agricultural economy while preserving natural resources and supporting rural communities.
Newly appointed in March 2023 as the Director of MDARD, Dr. Timothy Boring brings years of industry knowledge from prior leadership roles, his education on crop and soil sciences and experiences growing up on a dairy farm. His focus on conservation will be at the helm of MDARD’s goals and program development moving forward. This focus on conservation mirrors the same values farmers have: both provide vast benefit to the farm operation and surrounding communities.
“The value of conservation is around resiliency and sustainability, not only for the farms but for rural communities too,” Dr. Boring explains. “Building stronger, more resilient systems, being able to weather increasing climate challenges, having increased biological capacity, more diverse cover crops and less tillage.”
MDARD continues to be a sound resource for farmers looking to implement conservation practices on their operation. One notable program, the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), assists farmers in environmentally conscious practices and being good stewards of the land.
“MAEAP has improved management of farms in a variety ways and has increased the overall average production capacity and environmental protection on farms today,” says Dr. Boring. “[MDARD’s goal] is to increase the understanding of how agricultural investments are consistent with improving conservation. You can’t grow different things if you don’t have the infrastructure or processing to support different things being grown in your community.”
While there are a plethora of both internal and external resources MDARD connects farms with, such as Farm Bill and state-level programs, much of the focus is on educating growers on the importance of it all. Conservation is here to stay and MDARD plans to continue offering support by defining what good management looks like and helping farms get there.
“The environmental conditions we are dealing with are not getting any less challenging and these challenges are becoming more consistent with farms looking to build and expand,” explains Dr. Boring. “The department is prioritizing connecting with growers and producers one-on-one and we recognize the importance those connections are. There are lots of face-to-face local workshops and field day meetings for growers to attend.”
As you begin to implement environmentally-conscious changes and conservation practices on your farm, turn to MAEAP and the programs available through MDARD. These resources are here to support your conservation journey and streamline your process.
GreenStone recognizes the proactive work of our agricultural community and the efforts of farmers n embracing environmentally conscious practices. For more information on becoming MAEAP verified, conservation practices to implement and how they can bring long-term value to your farm, visit www.maeap.org.
To view the article in the online 2023 Summer Partners Magazine, click here.
