Farm*A*Syst
Farm*A*Syst (FAS) identifies potential risks posed by farmstead operations. Fact sheets provide educational information and list reference people to contact if questions arise. Farm*A*Syst work sheets use a simple question and answer format to evaluate farmstead practices that may pose a risk to groundwater.
Farm*A*Syst is voluntary and confidential. All Farm*A*Syst materials stay with you on your farm. It is important to recognize that Farm*A*Syst only identifies risk. It does not tell you if you have contaminated water or that you will never have contaminated water.
Technical assistance with completing Farm*A*Syst evaluations is available free of charge from the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program.
Farm*A*Syst Materials
Farm*A*Syst work sheets and fact sheets are designed for do-it-yourself use, but most individuals find they get more out of the process by working with a trained Farm*A*Syst technician. Work sheets and fact sheets are currently available for:
- Drinking Water Wells
- Pesticide Storage and Handling
- Fertilizer Storage and Handling
- Petroleum Products Storage
- Hazardous Waste Management
- Household Wastewater
- Livestock Waste Storage
- Livestock Yard Management
- Silage Storage
- Milking Center Wastewater
- Emergency Planning
- Soil and Geology
- Evaluation Summary
Re-certification Credits
Private Certified Applicators can earn up to 6 re-certification credits for completion of the Farm*A*Syst evaluations with a trained technician. To get the re-certification credits, complete work sheets 2, 3 and 5. This makes you eligible for I re-certification credit for each work sheet and up to six in total. Have your technician submit your name and the name of the work sheets you completed to MDA to get your credits. DO NOT submit the results. They are for your on-farm use only. MDA does not need to know the results of your evaluation.
Technical Assistance and Cost-Share
After completion, you decide what to do with the results of your assessment. Most people identify several things to reduce their risks and implement them at little or no cost without further support. Simply moving pesticide mix load activities away from the wellhead or putting inexpensive backflow prevention devices on hoses used to fill pesticide tanks can reduce risks. Completion of a Farm*A*Syst is the gateway to further participation in the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program. Demonstration and cost-share opportunities for implementation of these practices are being provided by the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program.