Enhancing farmland conservation practices and natural resource stewardship will benefit both farmers and the public.
Michigan’s conservation delivery system, including Natural Resources Conservation Service, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and Districts, could be more effective in delivering conservation on the ground, and it needs to be improved. We encourage conservation districts to take full advantage of farm bill programs, federal watershed initiative programs, and other grant opportunities to provide services and programs for farmers in addition to dedicated funds. We also encourage conservation districts to promote the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) and work in collaboration with farmers to provide technical advice and assistance, including access to financial assistance through the farm bill, in order to address resource concerns and achieve MAEAP verification.
We support:
Funding for conservation districts to develop and improve soil, water and forestry programs to assist agricultural landowners.
The Michigan Legislature redirecting the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s non-regulatory responsibilities and accompanying funding to MDARD for distribution to conservation districts.
Adequate funding for conservation districts to ensure an efficient conservation delivery system.
Immediate efforts to find a dedicated line-item funding source for conservation districts, which will allow them to plan long-term projects and provide competitive employee compensation including benefits, knowing funding is secure. Dedicated funds from agricultural sources should focus on providing cost-share to producers for implementing conservation practices. Until dedicated funding is secured, the state should continue to authorize appropriate general funds to support conservation districts.
Legislative or regulatory changes to enable conservation districts with budgets less than $50,000 to participate in grant programs by submitting a financial review in lieu of a formal audit.
Farm Bureau members supporting and becoming actively involved with local conservation districts by working collaboratively to improve the conservation delivery system.
Farmer leaders in conservation districts using their annual meetings as an opportunity to promote conservation programming in agriculture.
We support Michigan Farm Bureau:
Working with conservation districts to develop educational materials for members about agricultural stewardship and supporting efforts to make the public aware of the benefits of investment in good stewardship.
Working with the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts and local conservation districts to ensure landowners’ conservation needs are met now and into the future. These groups working together should review the current structure and delivery system, as well as determine what resources and appropriate authorities are needed for conservation districts.
We support conservation districts:
Focusing on conservation for agriculture.
Providing technical support to farmers utilizing Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices to protect soil, water and other resources.
Evaluating and adopting relevant successful programs from other conservation districts and states, such as water quality assistance and ditch maintenance. Programming could vary from county to county, based on the direction of the district boards and the needs of agriculture.
Partnering at a watershed scale.
Providing multi-disciplinary cross-training for all conservation district technicians.
Being the primary agency to initiate watershed management programming and technical assistance.
Only offering non-invasive species for conservation purposes.
Conservation Species
Under PA 451 of 1994 as amended, conservation districts may propagate, grow and sell plants designated as “conservation species” by the Conservation Species Advisory Panel for conservation practices. The legislative intent of PA 451 was to limit the negative impact on the private nursery and greenhouse industry from plant sales by state-subsidized, tax-exempt conservation districts.
As a result of recent reductions in funding, conservation districts generate additional sources of revenue by greatly enlarging the approved list of “conservation species,” which expands competition with private industry for production and sale of plant material. This “conservation species” list is reviewed annually by an advisory panel, as required by law. We are concerned about the number of recent additions to the approved propagation list. Conservation districts should be encouraged to purchase their plant materials from Michigan private industry suppliers whenever possible.