EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Institute of Water Research at Michigan State University is working with producers and various conservation partners to improve water quality in Lake Erie by reducing nutrient runoff and sediment loss from farm fields. As part of their goal, the Institute of Water Research coordinates a grant in the River Raisin Watershed called the Accelerating Conservation Adoption Program, where participating farmers within the River Raisin Watershed are eligible to apply for reimbursement for the following conservation practices through the Lenawee Conservation District:

• Conservation crop rotation
• Residue and tillage management – no-till
• Residue and tillage management – reduced-till
• Filter strip
• Nutrient management
• Phosphorus management

This program works with the farmer-led watershed conservation group, local conservation districts, Michigan State University Extension, etc. and is funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Eligibility requirements

• The practice must be implemented within the River Raisin Watershed.
• Funding may not be used to support practices that are already under contract.
• Applicants must have control of land for the duration of the contract.
• Must have recent soil tests (within three years) to apply.

The process is very simple and straightforward. Below is the entire process, step by step.

1. Apply by the enrollment deadline of May 21st, 2021, with your local conservation district
2. Applications will be selected for funding within 15 days of the application submission.
3. Sign contract.
4. Implement practice(s).
5. Verify practice(s).
6. Receive reimbursement through the Lenawee Conservation District.

Applications and enrollment

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until May 21, 2021. Contact your local conservation district to apply. Applications will be reviewed within 15 business days of submission.

Lenawee Conservation District
1100 Sutton Rd, Adrian, MI 49221
Phone: 517-263-7400

Washtenaw Conservation District
7203 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: 734-205-1219

Monroe Conservation District
1137 South Telegraph Rd, Monroe, MI 48161
Phone: 734-265-9311

Please visit the Accelerating Conservation Adoption in the River Raisin website for more details.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

— Ricardo Costa, Michigan State University Extension, and Connor Crank, MSU Institute of Water Research

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