Existing delivery systems provide Michigan farmers technical information and support through a number of organizations.

Action Items:

1. Coordinate information delivery efforts between public agencies and the private sector with a goal of more effective programming and tailored and targeted information that is adjusted to meet individual farm needs. Discussion will be initiated between MDA, MDEQ, MSU-E, USDA-NRCS, and Conservation Districts to: Lead: MDA/MDEQ.
   • Clearly define agency role and responsibilities.
   • Identify appropriate producer groups and agri-business representatives to assist in information delivery.
   • Promote local agency collaboration to meet individual farmer needs.
2. Work with MSU-E to develop efforts to include producer and agri-business groups in developing a more comprehensive educational effort on Right to Farm. Lead: MDA.
3. Continue to work toward eliminating overlap and conflicting requirements, laws, and messages. Lead: MDA/MDEQ.
4. Encourage MSU-E to provide expertise to local stewardship teams using the MSU-E Emergency Management Assistance Teams as a model. Lead: MDA/MDEQ.
5. Encourage the private sector to continue to play an active role in contributing to agricultural pollution prevention efforts with an emphasis on serving those who have not been reached using existing delivery systems. Lead: MDA/MDEQ.
6. Continue to identify and encourage development of local agricultural pollution prevention and recycling networks throughout Michigan. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
7. Encourage MSU to coordinate available information between MSU’s Resource Center library, MDA, and MDEQ to serve as an agricultural pollution prevention clearinghouse. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
8. Identify opportunities to further agricultural pollution prevention principles in the finance, insurance, and other business service industries. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
9. Initiate dialogue with environmental public interest groups to build awareness of agricultural pollution prevention progress for all stakeholders. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
10. Continue the development and updating of the Directory of Agricultural Pollution Prevention Resource Information. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
11. Support outreach and public educational efforts for schools, communities, and special interest groups which focus on providing agricultural pollution prevention development tools, and presentation materials and displays for loan. Lead: MDA/MDEQ.
12. Support existing recognition programs (i.e., DuPont’s and the National Cattleman’s Environmental Stewardship Award programs) and expand the promotion.   Lead: MDA/MDEQ.
13. Sponsor targeted conferences and workshops, and promote technology demonstrations. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
14. Develop voluntary successful experience fact sheets and case studies. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
15. Produce articles for electronic media, bulletins, calendars, newsletters, and publications on agricultural pollution prevention concerns. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
16. Identify initiatives that have the potential for incorporating agricultural pollution prevention principles and services. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
17. Support the adoption of agricultural pollution prevention principles into grade school, high school, and college curricula. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
18. Maintain agricultural pollution prevention programs within the MDEQ and MDA to work with the agricultural agencies, organizations, and industry.  Lead: MDEQ/MDA.
19. Promote, support, explore, and demonstrate creative solutions and new technologies for alternative uses in the agricultural industry such as manure brokering, biotechnology, and precision farming. Lead: MDEQ/MDA.