MSU Extension Meetings Help Farmers Meet Environmental Expectations
3/6/08
Contact: Beth Stuever
517-432-1555, ext. 177
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Large farms seem to get all the attention when various agencies set out to help livestock producers protect the environment. But smaller farms have opportunities to improve environmental stewardship as well. In fact, some argue that outdated facilities, lack of capital and less specialized management expertise put smaller farms at greater risk.
That’s why Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) is hosting a series of meetings for small- and medium-sized livestock producers interested in heightening their environmental awareness and compliance. The meetings, titled “Manure and the Environment on Small and Medium-sized Farms,” are scheduled throughout the state. They will focus on staying environmentally friendly while maintaining profitability.
Charles Gould, an MSUE nutrient management educator, says the meetings are designed to show small- and medium-sized farm owners and managers how to reduce the potential for a discharge.
“All farmers, regardless of size, have a responsibility to protect the environment,” Gould says. “It’s not just the big livestock operations. These meetings will help producers with smaller farms understand what is expected of them.”
One goal of the meetings is to demonstrate how each farmer can take action to help prevent possible environmental contamination. If a producer desires, an MSU Extension educator will conduct a site visit and give specific feedback on how to reduce or eliminate potential discharge.
“The reality is that Michigan has a zero-discharge policy,” Gould explains. “That’s a pretty tall order, but there are things that can be done on the farm that can have a big environmental impact with little cost. Sometimes farmers just aren’t aware of a potential discharge. Once they are aware of it, they can make the appropriate change.”
Gould believes there may be some farmers who know what the necessary changes are but shy away from asking for help for fear of being fined or drawing attention to the issue.
“They know they have a discharge but have been afraid to say something about it,” he explained. “That’s where we can help them. We’re here to educate, not to judge. Our job is to show them how to make improvements before somebody else finds fault.”
Gould encourages operators of all small- and medium-sized livestock farms to attend a meeting.
“We held similar meetings last year,” he noted. “Farmers who attended those gave us very positive feedback, and now we want to make the opportunity open to even more people.”
The meetings scheduled are:
In Montcalm County on March 17 at the Douglass Township Hall from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
In Sanilac County on March 26 in the MSU Extension office in Sandusky from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
In Huron County on March 26 at the Franklin Inn in Bad Axe from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
In Emmet County on April 3 at the Mackinaw Area Public Library in Mackinaw City, from 6 to 8:30 p.m..
In Newago County on April 9 in the MSU Extension office in Fremont from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
For more specific information on any of the meetings, contact your local MSU Extension office to register. A $15 per person registration fee will be collected at the door.
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