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Great Lakes Assurance Act models Michigan program

Michigan Representatives are introducing legislation into the U.S. House to encourage more farmers to protect the Great Lakes.

Representative Candice Miller says her legislation is modeled after Michigan’s voluntary environmental stewardship program.

“Michigan has had incredible success with this MAEAP program.”  She tells Brownfield, “It is totally voluntary and it has farmers utilizing best conservation practices to make sure that their farm is certified to really filter out excess phosphorus, excess nutrients, et cetera, that then do find their way into the Great Lakes eventually.”  She says each state’s Department of Agriculture will distribute the existing funds to help farmers improve water quality.

AUDIO: Interview with Rep. Candice Miller (2:50 mp3):

Representative Tim Walberg says all states can benefit beyond the Great Lakes.  “I would say this is a ground up, truly ground up approach, taken from an affective program that’s worked in Michigan at very low cost moving to the federal level to give incentive for other states to use things that work well.”

Funding will come from the EQIP program to support the Great Lakes Assurance Program Verification Act

AUDIO: Interview with Rep. Tim Walberg (1:46 mp3):