What is AEM?
Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) is a voluntary, incentive-based program that helps farmers operate environmentally sound and economically viable businesses. The AEM program coordinates agricultural and environmental conservation agencies and programs, as well as private sector consultants, to provide one-stop shopping for services. The AEM program benefits both farmers and the environment by helping to manage nutrient use, protect drinking water, conserve soil, improve neighbor and community relations, and comply with environmental regulations.

How does AEM work?
Using AEM’s 5-tiered approach, farmers work with the Agricultural Stewardship Program, including Suffolk County’s Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) staff, to develop and implement comprehensive, site-specific farm plans.

Tier 1: A short questionnaire identifies current farm activities, future plans and potential environmental concerns.

Tier 2: AEM worksheets document current environmental stewardship while identifying and prioritizing environmental concerns. The Stewardship Program has focused the worksheets on nutrient and pest management, highlighting the agricultural practices that have the greatest impact on Long Island’s ground and surface waters.

Tier 3: A plan is developed providing solutions to environmental concerns identified in Tiers 1 and 2. Plans are designed with a farm’s mission, goals, and objectives in mind.

Tier 4: SWCD, NRCS, the Stewardship Program staff and consultants provide farms with technical and educational assistance to implement best management practices (BMPs).

Tier 5: Ongoing evaluations ensure that AEM helps protect both the environment and the viability of farm businesses.

What Assistance Does AEM Provide?

Technical Assistance and Information

• Conservation plan development
• Best Management Practice design and installation
• Education programs to help farmers operate viable and environmentally sound farms

Financial Assistance
Sources of cost-share funds for environmental farm plans and BMP implementation on Long Island include:

• NYS Agricultural Non-point Source Abatement and Control Grant Program
• USDA Farm Bill Programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
• Agrichemical Mixing Facility

How to Participate

View the Nutrient and Pest Management Worksheets for Suffolk County

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