Agricultural Environmental Management – AEM
AEM
Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) is a voluntary, incentive-based program available to all farmers through their local Soil and Water Conservation District. AEM supports common-sense, cost-effective, and science-based decisions to meet farm goals while protecting and conserving New York‘s natural resources. By participating in AEM, farmers can document their environmental stewardship and further advance their positive contributions to their communities, our food and bio-systems, the economy, and the environment.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee administer the AEM framework and associated funding programs at the state-level and Soil and Water Conservation Districts lead AEM at the local-level with farmers and conservation partners. Altogether, over a third of all farms in the state participate in AEM.
To start or continue with AEM , farmers connect with their local Soil and Water Conservation District to progress through the confidential, AEM conservation tiers, below:
Tier 1 – Inventory current activities, interests, and potential environmental concerns of the farmer.
Tier 2 – Document current environmental stewardship and assess and prioritize areas of concern.
Tier 3 – Develop conservation plans addressing concerns and opportunities tailored to farm goals.
Tier 4 – Implement plans using available educational, technical, and financial assistance.
Tier 5 – Evaluate practices and plans for conservation and farm viability.
Contact our office if you’re interested in enrolling in AEM or finding out more about the program.
NYS AEM website:
Agricultural Environmental Management | Agriculture and Markets
