Applicants must sign-up by Sunday, August 23rd, 2015
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
In an effort to recognize and help farmers in Missouri better communicate with the customers who purchase their livestock and crops, the Missouri Department of Agriculture has introduced the Agricultural Stewardship Assurance Program (ASAP).
ASAP is a verification initiative that champions farmers from Missouri who are responsible stewards for the land. It acknowledges and rewards those that try and protect the environment, use good management practices and use science to produce food, fuel and fiber for the public.
“By and large, Missouri’s farmers and ranchers are good land stewards, because they know that it’s vital to long-term profitability, sustainability and quality of life for them and those who will work the land in the future,” said Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce. “Producers today plan in detail, use precision technology and implement strategies to achieve sustainability and good stewardship in their operations. Much of this is achieved through partnerships with resource agencies and industry, but ultimately, it’s our farmers and ranchers who decide what they need to do to achieve their stewardship goals on their property.”
By applying before Sunday, August 23rd, 2015, interested farmers can become verified in categories including grassland, livestock, forestry, cropland, farmstead and energy. By becoming verified, farmers are given access to more domestic and international markets, are given physical and digital stamps of the farm’s marketing materials and will receive farm signage.
Join the conversation and tell us if applying or the Agricultural Stewardship Assurance Program interests you. What kind of benefits do you think your farm could experience?