Michigan Association Of Conservation Districts

EXPANDS CLIMATE-SMART FRUIT, VEGETABLE AND LIVESTOCK MARKETS IN WASHTENAW, MONROE, LENAWEE AND WAYNE COUNTIES OF MI AND SUPPORTS FARMERS WITH IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING OF CLIMATE-SMART PRACTICES.

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYMICHIGAN IS LOSING ITS FARMERS FASTER THAN IT IS GAINING THEM. THE AVERAGE MICHIGAN FARMER IS NOW 56 YEARS OLD, MOST ARE OVER 55, AND FARMLAND PRICES HAVE CLIMBED FASTER THAN IN ANY OTHER STATE, UP MORE THAN 7% IN A SINGLE YEAR TO OVER $6,300 AN ACRE. MANY OF THESE FARMERS HAVE NO PLAN FOR WHAT HAPPENS TO THEIR LAND WHEN THEY RETIRE, WHILE A NEW GENERATION OF ASPIRING FARMERS CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY IN. WHEN FARMLAND CHANGES HANDS WITHOUT A PLAN, IT IS OFTEN SOLD OFF, SPLIT UP, OR LOST TO DEVELOPMENT RATHER THAN STAYING IN PRODUCTION. THAT MATTERS WELL BEYOND THE FARM GATE: IT AFFECTS THE GROCERIES ON MICHIGAN TABLES, THE JOBS AND TAX BASE OF RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND THE WORKING LANDSCAPES THAT KEEP THE STATE'S WATER AND SOIL HEALTHY. THIS IS NOT JUST A FARMING PROBLEM; IT IS A FOOD SECURITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROBLEM FOR THE WHOLE STATE.THIS PROJECT, LED BY MIFARMLINK, A PROGRAM OF THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, TACKLES THE PROBLEM BY MAKING IT EASIER FOR RETIRING FARMERS AND NEW FARMERS TO FIND EACH OTHER AND CREATE AN AGREEMENT. AT THE CENTER IS A FREE, STATEWIDE ONLINE TOOL THAT LETS LANDOWNERS LIST PROPERTY AND LETS NEW FARMERS SEARCH FOR IT, MUCH LIKE A HOUSING WEBSITE BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR FARMLAND. AROUND THAT TOOL, THE PROJECT ADDS A HUMAN TOUCH: LOCAL STAFF IN EVERY REGION WHO HELP PEOPLE GET STARTED, EXPERIENCED FARMERS WHO VOLUNTEER AS MENTORS, BUSINESS COACHES WHO HELP BEGINNERS BUILD A REALISTIC FINANCIAL PLAN, AND A DEDICATED SPECIALIST WHO WALKS RETIRING LANDOWNERS AND NEW FARMERS THROUGH THE SOMETIMES COMPLICATED PROCESS OF ACTUALLY TRANSFERRING LAND, WHETHER THROUGH A SALE, A LEASE, OR A GRADUAL BUY-IN ARRANGEMENT. THE PROJECT ALSO HOSTS COMMUNITY EVENTS ACROSS THE STATE WHERE PEOPLE CAN MEET FACE-TO-FACE, LEARN PRACTICAL SKILLS, AND GET LEGAL AND FINANCIAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN ONE PLACE.OVER THREE YEARS, MIFARMLINK EXPECTS TO HELP LAUNCH 25 NEW FARM BUSINESSES IN MICHIGAN, CONNECT AT LEAST 200 LANDOWNERS AND BEGINNING FARMERS, AND SUPPORT AT LEAST 15 FARMS IN SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING TO NEW OWNERSHIP, WHILE REACHING MORE THAN A THOUSAND FARMERS WITH LAND, MENTORSHIP, AND BUSINESS-PLANNING SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY. THE BROADER GOAL IS TO KEEP MICHIGAN FARMLAND IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL FARM IT, STRENGTHENING THE RURAL ECONOMY, PROTECTING THE STATE'S FOOD SUPPLY, AND GIVING THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS A REALISTIC PATH INTO AN OCCUPATION THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE BE PRICED OUT OF. BECAUSE THE APPROACH IS DESIGNED TO BE DOCUMENTED AND SHARED, THE TOOLS AND LESSONS DEVELOPED HERE ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO HELP OTHER STATES FACING THE SAME AGING-FARMER, RISING-LAND-COST CRISIS BUILD SIMILAR PROGRAMS OF THEIR OWN.

INCREASE FARM BILL CONTRACTS AMONG UNDERREPRESENTED AND UNDERSERVEDPOPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE; AND INCREASE THE MICHIGAN CONSERVATIONSYSTEM LABOR POOL, TO ADDRESS CURRENT LABOR SHORTAGE.

MICHIGAN ENVIROTHON PROGRAM INTRODUCES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MICHIGAN TO CONSERVATION CAREERS THROUGH OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMPETITIONS