A perfect, sunny summer day was the backdrop for the celebration of the first Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) verification in Manistee County. Mr. David Smeltzer and his father Mr. Clinton Smeltzer of West Wind Orchards in Onekama Township in Manistee County, both long time environmental conservation stewards, received verification in the MAEAP Cropping System on June 6th, 2011. The event was the culmination of effort by David, Clinton and the Manistee Conservation District, along with other individuals and organizations that worked in partnership to bring the tools, programs, technical and financial assistance to the table. Dave began his MAEAP journey with a simple visit to Manistee Conservation District.

The Manistee Conservation District is one of 79 Conservation Districts located in the state of Michigan. Michigan Conservation Districts are local units of state government and are the local delivery point for many regional, state and federal programs including MAEAP. They are the local partner in what is known as the Michigan Conservation Partnership which consists of Michigan Conservation Districts, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). This partnership works closely to provide farmers and all non-industrial private land owners with the financial and technical assistance to better manage and protect our natural resources. MDARD works closely with Michigan Conservation Districts and delivers several programs, including MAEAP through Michigan Conservation Districts. Conservation District’s water stewardship technicians, provide locally available assistance to those interested in assuring that their farm is environmentally sound. Assistance takes many forms including educational MAEAP meetings, working hand in hand with a farmer to examine different aspects of the farm through the MAEAP risk assessment tools to the implementation of environmentally sound practices to reduce identified risks.

The MAEAP program is well received by farmers because it helps the farmer maximize his investment of both time and money, helping to balance efficient production while being a good steward of the land. In David and Clinton’s case, the MAEAP process took four years, beginning with initial conversations to final verification in the Cropping System. It was a great learning experience and it helped them to develop an annual nutrient management plan, upgrade the farm’s record keeping system and bring their pesticide storage facility up to GAAMPS and Right to Farm Standards. Murray Stall, the Manistee Conservation District water stewardship technician provided the Smeltzers with information and assistance that led them through the process and also helped them to engage in the Conservation Stewardship Program, a proactive incentive payment program through the USDA-NRCS.


“We have an obligation and responsibility to be good stewards of the land,” said David. “Now with MAEAP, we have the opportunity to showcase to the public the good environmental practices that we have been doing privately for a long time.” David and his father are not done yet! They are now working on several projects with the goal of becoming MAEAP verified in the Farmstead System. Plans are in place to have the MAEAP on-farm inspection to verify program requirements completed by apple harvest this year. “The two most important words within the MAEAP program title are Environmental and Assurance, said David. “the environmental assurance of our farm and management practices through the MAEAP program show that we indeed are good stewards of the land.”