The Michigan Sensitive Areas Identification System (SAIS) launched earlier this month at a training in Lenawee County. SAIS is an online mapping and reporting tool that identifies and maps sensitive areas on farm fields. You can use SAIS to help evaluate the conservation needs of your fields. This evaluation can be as brief or as in depth as you like. For instance, you can view areas where concentrated water runoff is likely to occur and cause erosion and loss of nutrients. You can also create a report that summarizes potential resource issues on your field and describes conservation practices that you might consider using to reduce these issues. And, if you choose, you can use the report to talk with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for information on how to implement the practices and learn about financial assistance that may be available.

Try SAIS out at sais.iwr.msu.edu.