A project proposed by Anderson Farms of Homer has qualified for funding under the Department of Environmental Quality’s Small Business Pollution Prevention Loan Program.

DEQ Director Russell Harding’s approval of the project clears the way for finalizing a $100,000 loan to Anderson Farms.

The program is part of the Clean Michigan Initiative, a $675 million environmental bond proposed by Gov. John Engler and overwhelmingly approved by voters in 1998. The program provides low-interest loans to small businesses with fewer than 100 employees to encourage the implementation of projects that eliminate or reduce waste through source reduction or recycling.

Anderson Farms will purchase a state-of-the-art, energy efficient in-house swine finishing facility to raise hogs for market. The current operation is an open lot setup where manure is scraped daily and applied to agricultural land surfaces year-round, regardless of weather conditions or crop needs. The new facility will be enclosed. It uses low-energy insulated curtains and includes wet/dry feeders for water conservation.

Also included is a 4,000-gallon manure injection tank, which allows manure to be applied during favorable weather and crop conditions using the new practice of "knife injection." With this process, manure is directly injected into the soil, reducing the potential for runoff and odor problems.

The project implements the alternative manure management recommendations of Michigan’s Farm*A*Syst (on-farm risk assessment) and the National Pork Environmental Assurance on-farm assessment. A nutrient management plan also has been developed as part of the on-farm assessment.

Harding said he is pleased to have another agricultural project that addresses non-point source pollution.

"The DEQ likes to see this program support the implementation of long-term strategic plans that include solid pollution prevention components," Harding said. "I applaud Anderson Farms for voluntarily undertaking this ambitious project that will deliver significant environmental benefits."

Under the program, the DEQ works in partnership with the company and its local bank to provide a loan that does not exceed the 5-percent interest rate established in the state statute creating this program. In this instance, GreenStone Farm Credit Services of Concord is participating in the loan with the DEQ. Upon completing the loan documents, the bank will issue the $100,000 low-interest loan.

"Thanks to the Small Business Pollution Prevention Loan Program, we will be able to implement effective land stewardship practices with this project, through waste reduction, water and energy conservation," said Dan Anderson, owner of Anderson Farms.

Eligible projects must reduce waste at the point of generation, or reuse or recycle materials. Loans of up to $100,000 are available to all private business sectors including manufacturing, farming, retail and service.