Emerging issue: MAEAP incentives

Michigan Farm Bureau members have long supported the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program’s (MAEAP) voluntary, confidential environmental stewardship opportunities. As the program evolves, this presents an opportunity for farmers to weigh in on what practices, incentives, and program components would be most beneficial. With current pesticide and fertilizer fees for MAEAP extended through 2029, now is a good time to think about how MAEAP can better serve farmers.

MFB members could consider how MAEAP could be used to demonstrate compliance with other programs, such as commodity-specific sustainability initiatives, carbon credit programs, pesticide use mitigation requirements, or others. They may also want to consider what additional program components would incentivize farmers to earn and maintain MAEAP verification.  Existing incentives include insurance discounts, priority access to conservation funding, and exemption from civil penalties after act-of-God discharges, but stronger incentives may be needed to motivate farmers to pursue MAEAP verification.

Questions to Consider

• What would make MAEAP a more valuable and useful program while maintaining its essential voluntary nature?
• Could the information collected during MAEAP verification help farmers with demonstrating compliance with other programs and if so, how do farmers want that information collected and shared? 
• How can MAEAP better demonstrate farmers’ environmental stewardship to widen its support among legislators, agencies, and companies working toward sustainability goals? 

Additional resources

MAEAP

MFB Environmental Protection Resource Page

Policy references

MFB Policy #69, Agricultural Conservation

MFB Policy #82, Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program

MFB Policy #84, Nonpoint Source Pollution and Watershed Management