◆ ◆ CROP A SYST FOR NURSERY CROP AND CHRISTMAS TREE PRODUCERS FAS 114 • October 2019 For MAEAP Verification: r Ii~ Contact the MAEAP Office at the MICHIGAN STATE I Extension Michigan Department of Agriculture U~IVERSITY & Rural Development MAEAP (517) 284-5609 -.,~~ Cropop◆A◆A◆Syst◆Syst Nursery Crop and Christmas Tree System Improvement Action Plan List high-risk practice(s) from Action plan Required for Risk Crop◆A◆Syst and medium-risk Management practice to reduce risk MAEAP Planned Indicate date question practices that do not meet MAEAP (include potential sources of verification? completion when requirements technical and financial assistance) date completed 1.01 Example: Soil nutrient tests not up-to-date Yes Perform soil tests on all fields going into (√) for all fields. new crops. Feb. 2019 Completed March 18, 2019 (continued on next page) 3 2 CCrropop◆◆A◆◆SystSyst Nursery Crop and Christmas Tree System Improvement Action Plan (continued) List high-risk practice(s) from Action plan ◆ ◆ Risk Crop A Syst and medium-risk Required for Management practice to reduce risk Planned Indicate date question practices that do not meet MAEAP MAEAP (include potential sources of completion when requirements verification? technical and financial assistance) date completed (continued on next page) 34 ◆ ◆ CrCoprop◆AA◆SystSyst Nursery Crop and Christmas Tree System Improvement Action Plan (continued) List high-risk practice(s) from Action plan ◆ ◆ Risk Crop A Syst and medium-risk Required for Management practice to reduce risk Planned Indicate date question practices that do not meet MAEAP MAEAP (include potential sources of completion when requirements verification? technical and financial assistance) date completed I understand that this cropping system assessment (Crop◆A◆ Syst) and corresponding Improvement Action Plan were developed on the basis that I have disclosed, to the best of my knowledge, all information pertaining to my nursery crop and Christmas tree cropping operations. Farm address: Producer’s signature Street Date City Crop◆A◆Syst conducted by: State Zip Name Title Watershed name: Organization Date MAEAP Verification Action Plan Date Target date for MAEAP verification of Cropping System Target date for MAEAP verification of Farmstead System Target date for MAEAP verification of Livestock System Target date for MAEAP verification of Forest, Wetlands, and Habitat System 4 For MAEAP verification, contact MAEAP office at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: 517-284-5609. ◆ ◆ Crop A Syst Introduction management practices that, when implemented, An MDARD inspector will schedule a site visit to ◆ ◆ Crop A Syst for Nursery Crop and Christmas will reduce negative impacts to the environment. complete the verification process. Tree Producers will assist growers in developing The Michigan Agriculture Environmental and implementing a management plan that pre- P.A. 451, Part 82, ensures the confidentiality of Assurance Program (MAEAP) is a vents contamination of groundwater and surface the producer information provided to MDARD for comprehensive, proactive and voluntary water resources and maintains economic crop verification. Any information connected with the agricultural pollution prevention program. It production. Plans will be consistent with development, implementation or verification of a takes a systems approach to assist producers applicable Michigan Right to Farm Generally conservation plan or conservation practice is in evaluating their farms for environmental Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices confidential. risks. The on-farm risk evaluation uses specific (GAAMPs) and state and federal environmental tools for each system. Environmentally assured The owner of a MAEAP verified Cropping System regulations. farms are eligible for various incentives and will be eligible for various incentives and can enjoy Nutrients used in nursery production come from recognitions. the peace of mind that comes from knowing that chemical fertilizers and natural sources such as Cropping System practices are consistent with the The Michigan Right to Farm Act authorizes the manure, compost, legumes and biosolids (sewage identified current Right to Farm GAAMPs. Verified Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural sludge). All nutrients, whether synthetic or Cropping Systems are positioned to achieve Development to develop and adopt GAAMPs for naturally occurring, can become mixed with regulatory compliance with state and federal farms and farm operations in Michigan. These surface water or groundwater by natural environmental laws. voluntary practices are based on available processes such as runoff and leaching. Nitrate technology and scientific research to promote Similar incentives are available for producers who contamination of groundwater and phosphorus sound environmental stewardship. The current have environmentally assured their Livestock and contamination of surface water are problems in Right to Farm GAAMPs are posted on the Farmstead Systems. Contact a local conservation Michigan. Crop◆A◆Syst for Nursery Crop and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural district, MSU Extension or Natural Resources Christmas Tree Producers will assess current Development (MDARD) Web site: Conservation Service (NRCS) representative for a nutrient management practices and identify www.michigan.gov/mdard. list of currently available incentives and alternative management practices that, when information on how to get started. Producers who complete the Crop◆A◆Syst for implemented, will reduce nutrient losses to the environment. Nursery Crop and Christmas Tree Production will be able to determine what management and What is the Crop Assessment Virtually all crops produced in Michigan may be record-keeping changes (if any) will be needed System for Nursery Crop and threatened by serious pest problems – weeds, for their Cropping System to be environmentally insects, mites and disease-producing organisms. assured through MAEAP. Once a producer Christmas Tree Producers? Producers are encouraged to adopt pest develops and implements a Nursery Crop and The Crop◆ A◆ Syst for Nursery Crop and Christmas management practices that achieve the desired Christmas Tree System Improvement Action Plan Tree Producers (Crop◆A◆Syst) is a series of risk quality while minimizing any adverse effects on to address the risks indicated by the Crop◆A◆Syst questions that will help assess how effectively non-target organisms, humans, and soil and water assessment, he or she can contact the Michigan ◆ ◆ crop management practices protect groundwater resources. Crop A Syst for Nursery Crop and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and surface water resources. The risk questions Christmas Tree Producers will assess current pest ( MDARD ) at (517) 284-5609 to request a MAEAP are grouped in the following sections: management practices and identify alternative Cropping System verification inspection. 5 ◆ ◆ Crop A Syst Nursery Crop and Christmas Tree System MAEAP management requirements are resources in the Nursery Crop and Christmas Improvement Action Plan aligned with state and federal environmental Tree System Improvement Action Plan regulations. The GAAMPs and (printed inside the front cover of the bulletin). 1 Nutrient Management Practices environmentally based agronomic Also include any medium-risk practices that 2 Soil and Water Conservation Practices management practices are supported by do not meet MAEAP verification 3 Pest Management Practices research. The records or evidence that requirements. indicate the approved management practices 4 Irrigation Management Practices 4) In the Cropping System Improvement Plan, list: have been implemented on the farm are 5 Water Use listed in the far right column. This evidence • Management practice(s) that are planned for implementation that will reduce the 6 Nursery Container Management will provide the basis for awarding environmental assurance through MAEAP. identified risk. 7 Other Environmental Risks in the Agricultural representatives (both public and • Sources of technical assistance. Cropping System private) can assist growers to make the • Target dates for accomplishing the changes. appropriate management changes to • Target date for MAEAP Cropping become environmentally assured through System verification. Each risk question assesses the impact of MAEAP. production practices on groundwater and ◆ ◆ A Few Final Words surface water resources. The risk question How Does Crop A Syst Work? answers indicate whether management ◆ ◆ 1) Select all relevant risk question sections for The key to Crop A Syst is that once practices have a low, medium or high risk of the farm or nursery. environmental risks are identified, the plan is contamination. Producers are generally implemented to reduce the risk(s). Some of recommended to adopt the low-risk 2) Answer the risk questions by selecting the the stewardship practices that will reduce management practices. Risk questions that answer that best describes management risks may cost very little and take very little address management practices that are practices used on the farm. Indicate the risk time to implement. Other practices may regulated by state or federal law indicate level in the column to the right. Skip any involve additional cost and may not be illegal practices with black bold print. questions that don’t apply. implemented for a few years. It is important, Risk questions that address management Note: for MAEAP verification, complete the