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MAEAP could get $15 million from federal funds

Two leading Michigan ag groups say an infrastructure bill introduced in the Senate will greatly enhance the work of the state’s voluntary environmental stewardship program on farms.

Chuck Lippstreu with the Michigan Agri-Business Association tells Brownfield the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, or MAEAP, is nearly 90 percent funded through fees on fertilizer and pesticide registrations which total more than $6 million annually.

“That’s up just shy of 80 percent five years ago as we see general funds decline, state funding decline for the program,” he says.

Lippstreu says Senate bill 565, introduced by Senator Jon Bumstead, makes substantial new investments leveraging federal dollars to fund the MAEAP Program into the future.

“To fund some cost-share opportunities, to fund our conservation district partners, and to also invest in other key water quality concerns in our state,” he says.

Ben Tirrell with Michigan Farm Bureau tells Brownfield Bumstead’s bill views MAEAP as an important part of the state’s infrastructure just like other water quality provisions in the legislation and dedicates $15 million toward the program.

“Overall, very positive piece of legislation that we support,” he says.

The Bumstead bill is also one the Department of Agriculture is also excited for, telling Brownfield it shares the priority on investing in water infrastructure and protecting water quality and looks forward to seeing how it works through the budget process.