MDARD Invites Public Input on Agricultural Management and Food Processing Practices

Feedback must be submitted to MDARD by 5 p.m. August 30, 2026

LANSING, Mich.- The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today invited the public to share input on proposed updates to the state's scientifically based guidelines for agricultural management and food processing.

The Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs) are scientifically based guidelines for farm operations. The Generally Accepted Processing Practices (GAPPs) are scientifically based guidelines for the commercial preparation of dairy, fruit, grains, meat and vegetables.

The GAAMPs and the GAPPs help mitigate nuisance conditions and promote environmental stewardship, sound management of agricultural inputs and a strong and stable food and agriculture industry.

Advisory committees that are independent of MDARD review the GAAMPs annually and the GAPPs as needed to ensure that they reflect the latest scientific understanding, technological advancements and industry standards. The expert committees propose updates to the GAAMPs and GAPPs and present their proposals to the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development for review and approval.

This year, MDARD is offering the opportunity to provide input on new GAAMPs for greenhouses and indoor growing facilities. These practices provide a resource to help greenhouse and indoor growers enhance their management practices and mitigate potential nuisance conditions.

Consistent with annual practice, MDARD has also opened the other eight GAAMPs to public comment:

1. Manure Management and Utilization
2. Care of Farm Animals
3. Site Selection and Odor Control for New and Expanding Livestock Facilities
4. Farm Markets
5. Pesticide Utilization and Pest Control
6. Nutrient Utilization
7. Cranberry Production
8. Irrigation Water Use

To promote transparency, MDARD is opening the GAPPs to public input for the first time this year. The proposed updates to the GAPPs include new guidelines for managing dust and airborne particulate emissions from certain food and agricultural processing activities.

Interested individuals may review the proposed updates on the MDARD GAAMPs web page and the MDARD GAPPs web page. Public input may be submitted via:

• Email: Send comments to [email protected]
• Website: Submit comments on the GAAMPs and/or submit comments on the GAPPs
• U.S. Mail: Post written comments to the MDARD Right to Farm Program, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909
• Public Meeting: MDARD will host a virtual public meeting on the GAAMPs and GAPPS on August 27, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET | Link to join the virtual meeting

MDARD will forward all public input received by the August 30 deadline to the respective GAAMPs and GAPPs and the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development for consideration. The advisory committees will present their recommendations to the Commission at their regularly scheduled meeting on September 9, 2026.

Read the proposed updates to the GAAMPs.

Read the proposed updates to the GAPPs.

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