By Nick Machinski, MAEAP Technician
There is cost-share funds available for farmers located within the Western Lake Erie Basin through STRAND. This area includes the Raisin River Watershed and the Stony Creek Watershed (Figure 1).
The funds cover the grid/zone soil sampling and variable rate application (or subsurface placement) of fertilizer (N, P, K). The program pays $7/acre and $10/acre for the respective practice. To qualify for the program, you need to be growing corn, soy or wheat, be able to provide maps from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), be willing to participate in the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) and sign a short contract. The land being enrolled in this program also cannot have had conservation practices implemented on them for the past 5 years.
If you have questions, want to know more about STRAND or would like to apply, please me at 734-302-8711 or at Nicholas.machinski@washtenawcd.org |