Oscoda County Conservation District
Forestry Requests? 989-826-8824
Office Questions: 989-217-1368
MAEAP is free, confidential and proactive!
We verify farms of all sizes and commodities, from huge dairy farms to smaller specialty crops to privately owned forests.
The goal of this program is to directly support our landowners and the environment by protecting our natural resources. We do this by looking for any potential risks to our waters and soils on your property, and by ensuring farming practices conform to Michigan's Right to Farm Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices (GAAMPs)
There are four systems in MAEAP that we can verify our landowners in, a landowner can be verified in one, all, or any combination of the systems.
The systems are: Farmstead, Cropping, Livestock and Forest/Wetlands/Habitat
Steps to becoming verified:
1. Connect with the MAEAP technician covering your county
https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/environment/maeap/contact-the-maeap-program
This link will bring you to a page where you can request a visit
(MAEAP is unique to Michigan, and all counties are covered by a technician)
2. We'll ask for a tour of your property, and ask questions from our MAEAP booklets
3. From these questions we'll create an action plan with you, this will consist of items that may need to be added or changed in order to meet our qualifications
4. There is an educational requirement, however this is relatively easy to meet. You can attend a 'MAEAP phase 1 event,' watch a few specific videos on MDARD's website (the technician will provide you with specifics), or by having a forest management plan
5. After you have your educational credit, all items finished in the action plan, and the technician thinks you're good to go, we'll ask for a final visit with our verifier. If the verifier decides you're ready for verification, we'll give you sign(s) according to which systems we verified you in.
And then congrats! You are MAEAP verified.
5 years later your verification will lapse in our system and we'll ask to pay another visit in order to reverify you.
If you have any questions, you may either visit the link above this box, or feel free to ask me directly at: ogemawmaeap@gmail.com
Benefits of MAEAP verification
Access to cost-share opportunities to help meet MAEAP qualifications
Protection from nuisance complaints
Michigan Corn Growers Association: Free 3-year membership for first-time verification
Crystal Flash: Will offer up to 10 percent off a fuel tank purchase to meet MAEAP verification
Michigan Pork Producers: Will offer to help pay for a second MAEAP sign for pork producers
Farm Bureau: Discount on the liability portion of a farm owners policy
Michigan Wheat Program: Offers a one-time $50 financial award for documented wheat farmers
Meet the technician for Oscoda, Ogemaw, Roscommon and Iosco Counties
Hi there! My name is Emily Radhs and I am a MAEAP technician, or CTAP/conservation technician
I have a bachelors in environmental science, and love anything to do with the outdoors
I also really enjoy supporting our landowners and meeting new people
I would love to work with you!
If you're interested or have any questions, please email me at ogemawmaeap@gmail.com
(If you are interested in the program but don't reside in one of my counties, reach out to me and I'll connect you with the correct technician)
