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Politics & Government

More Farmers Expected to Benefit Under New Law

Measure encourages increased use of voluntary pollution prevention program but environmentalists worry about changes.

A local farm advocate and a state lawmaker say a new law designed to expand a voluntary pollution prevention program will help Livingston County farmers while some environmental activists worry it could actually weaken protections.

The measure, signed by Gov. Rick Snyder earlier this month, puts the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program into state law, giving it a higher profile and a more solid funding base. In addition, changes give incentives to encourage more farmers to participate, such as granting protections from civil penalties from discharges caused by acts of God if they correct them and report them to authorities within 24 hours.

Supporters of the law say the change will encourage more farmers to participate in this voluntary, proactive approach to reducing agricultural pollution that also allows them to keep their business operations sustainable. Under the program, farmers receive education on environmental issues, then develop an on-site risk assessment and action plan they must implement to receive certification.

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“Agriculture is a significant job provider in our state and it is great to see the governor embrace this,” said state Sen. Joe Hune, R-Hamburg Township, who was a main backer of the bill. “We are excited about this.”

Matt Germane, president of the Livingston County branch of the Michigan Farm Bureau, said 10,000 farms have started the process to become MAEAP verified and 1,000 already have been certified.

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“All farms are subject to environmental regulations, but this makes the MAEAP more viable and gives farmers extra assistance and protection,” said Germane, who also is a Hartland Township trustee.

But while the Michigan Sierra Club states it is supportive of the idea of educating and giving guidance to farmers regarding safe practices, the voluntary tag and the protection from civil penalties have the group concerned.

“It is not as stringent as the federal law requires,” Michigan Sierra Club Director Anne Woiwode said. “Agricultural waste, particularly from livestock, can pose a great risk to the environment, specifically water.”

Hune said in no way is the law trying to get around federal standards. Rather it is there, he said, to prevent any significant penalties to be incurred by farmers because of “acts of God.”

Some local farmers, like Shannon Rau, are unfamiliar with the changes. However, she and her fellow farmers have and will continue to maintain environmentally safe farming operations while trying to be productive, she said.

Rau operates Stone Coop with her father Tom Rau and Joannée DeBruhl and this is their first season. They are being certified through Michigan’s Organic Food and Farm Alliance.

“Our farm is organic and we are going through a third-party process to certify it as much,” Rau said of Stone Coop Farm, which is located in Brighton. “I am not aware of the new law, but we have already set out to maintain an environmentally safe farm with the intention of growing fresh and healthy produce.”

Snyder, in a news release, said program will help farming and the environment in Michigan, citing its successful record. According to the MAEAP website, since 1998 the program has been responsible for reducing the amount of phosphorus from entering waterways by 260,000 pounds, preventing 7.5 tons of algae growth.

“Our journey to the ‘new Michigan’ requires that government, industry and stakeholder groups work together toward common goals,” Snyder said. “MAEAP has proved to be an excellent example of that cooperation. Putting this program into statute secures its place as a model for addressing environmental challenges in a way that also allows our agriculture-based businesses to expand.”

For more information, visit the MAEAP website here.

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