Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District
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)