Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District
The District office will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 25th, for Christmas
Agricultural Environmental Management
Click below to view the MCSWCD AEM Strategic Plan to guide our AEM program for 2021-2025.
What is AEM?
Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) is a voluntary, incentive-based program that helps farmers make common sense, cost-effective and science-based decisions to help meet business objectives while protecting and conserving the state's natural resources. Farmers work with local AEM resource professionals to develop comprehensive farm plans using a tiered process.
Over 500 Monroe County farms have participated in AEM!
AEM Planning Uses a Five-Tiered Approach |
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Tier 1 - Inventory: Farmers complete a short, confidential questionnaire about current farm activities, future plans, and environmental conservation efforts |
Tier 2 - Site Visit: Farmers and MCSWCD staff document existing conservation practices and assess any protection resource concerns while walking the farm |
Tier 3 - Plan Development: MCSWCD staff work with farmers to develop a conservation farm plan to address any concerns identified in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 |
Tier 4 - Plan Implementation: Implement priority conservation practices identified in the Tier 3 conservation plan by providing technical, educational and/or financial assistance to the farmers |
Tier 5 - Plan Update and Evaluation: Farms and MCSWCD staff update the plans as necessary and evaluate any conservation practices that have been implemented under the Tier 4 to ensure continued environmental management and farm viability |
AEM benefits farmers and the environment:
- Document your environmental stewardship
- Improve water quality in Monroe County
- Manage manure and fertilizer nutrients
- Manage barnyard runoff and process wastewater
- Conserve soil
- Improve neighbor and community relations
- Comply with environmental regulations
- Promote the economic and environmental benefits of farmland to the community
- Meet permit requirements for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
- Gain access to grant money to improve farming through the implementation of best management practices (BMPs)