LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Michigan Department of Agriculture Rural Development (MDARD) today announced the public input meeting and review period has been scheduled for January 22, 2014 in order to gather comments on the 2014 drafts of the state’s Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs).    Public comment will be taken on all eight GAAMPs.  There are proposed changes in the GAAMPs for: Manure Management and Utilization, Pesticide Utilization and Pest Control, the Care of Farm Animals, Site Selection and Odor Control for New and Expanding Livestock Production Facilities, and Irrigation Water Use.  Currently, there are no proposed changes in the GAAMPs for: Nutrient Utilization, Farm Markets, and Cranberry Production.   The GAAMPs public input meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 22, 2014, in Room A at the State Secondary Complex – General Office Building located at 7150 Harris Drive, Dimondale, MI.   Written comments may be submitted to MDARD’s Environmental Stewardship Division, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909 and postmarked no later than January 22, 2014, or sent via e-mail to WilcoxR2@michigan.gov by 5:00 p.m. on January 22, 2014.  MDARD will forward all comments received by the due date to the respective GAAMPs Task Force Chairpersons for consideration. The GAAMPs Task Force Chairpersons then present proposed GAAMPs to the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development for final adoption. Public comments are accepted and considered at scheduled commission meetings, before final versions of the GAAMPs are approved.    The Michigan Right to Farm Act provides nuisance protection for farms and farm operations which are in conformance with GAAMPs. These GAAMPs are reviewed annually by scientific committees of various experts, revised and updated as necessary.    For a copy of any of these GAAMPs including the proposed revisions, please visit www.michigan.gov/gaamps, or contact MDARD’s Environmental Stewardship Division at 517-284-5619, or toll free at 877-632-1783.

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