Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Annual Reports
Fruit and Vegetable Controlled Atmosphere Storage Licensing Details, FAQ's, & Forms
Want to know how to contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development? On this page you will find phone numbers, email addresses, snail mail addresses, and online contact forms for everything we do here at MDARD. We even have a complaint form for those of you with complaints.
Laws and Regulations pertaining to and governing the actions and policies of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development.
This area contains information for press and media agencies. Press Releases, Pics, Podcasts & Videos
All public meetings, that fall under the Open Meetings Act, scheduled by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development will be posted here. Questions about any of these meetings should be directed to contact person in the division listed on the notice.
Animal ID and movement requirements in the State of Michigan
Animal health resources for veterinary professionals.
Diseases affecting, or potentially affecting, animals in Michigan
Rules governing the disposal of Bodies of Dead Animals (BODA).
Information about how MDARD's Agriculture Development Division can help you grow your business in Michigan.
Michigan's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) was created to help protect our environment and wildlife. Michigan is partnering with the federal government to implement conservation practices of great significance to the state, and valuable to the nation, in matters of soil erosion, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
Programs under the Private Forestlands Initiative, including the Forestry Assistance Program, Qualified Forester Registration, and Qualified Forest Program.
Good migrant labor housing is an essential element in securing an adequate supply of seasonal agricultural workers.
The Cottage Food law, enacted in 2010, allows individuals to manufacture and store certain types of foods in an unlicensed home kitchen.
Find a licensed firm in Michigan, from pesticide businesses to retail establishments, and more.
For the registration of horses, breeders and owners so as to render them eligible for racing and breeder/owner awards.
Retail Motor Fuel Outlet licensing information, applications and forms.
Information on Weights & Measures service person and agency registration, as well as weights and measures advisories.
Each new, existing, and proposed commercial pesticide or fertilizer bulk storage facility is required to register annually with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Information on how to acquire a feed license to manufacture or distribute commercial feed in Michigan.
Fertilizer License and Registration Requirements, as well as Liming License Requirements
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is charged with certifying sites where industrial hemp is to be grown under the authority of the federal Agriculture Act of 2014 and the state Industrial Hemp Research Act of 2014.
The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
July 07, 2022
Harvesting over 90,000 tons of cherries annually, Michigan is the nation's leading producer of tart cherries
Traverse City, MI - Today, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Gary McDowell and Cherry Marketing Institute President Julie Gordon attended Traverse City's National Cherry Festival, along with visiting Great Lakes Packing, Orchard View Farm, and Altonen Orchards. Throughout 2022, McDowell is traveling across the state, meeting with food and agricultural businesses as they advance during Michigan's economic recovery and revitalization.
"Traverse City is the Cherry Capital of the World, and I'm proud to be celebrating Michigan’s incredible cherry industry alongside the Grand Traverse community," said McDowell. "Our cherry farmers and industry provide jobs and other significant economic benefits throughout the Northern Michigan region and beyond. The National Cherry Festival is an exciting celebration of our cherry industry for everyone to enjoy."
Michigan grows 70 percent of the United States' supply of tart cherries, ranking first in production, and is the leading producer in the world for Montmorency tart cherries, known as "America's Superfruit." Montmorency tart cherries grown in the U.S. have the highest levels of disease-fighting antioxidants compared to other fruits.
“The first commercial tart cherry orchards in Michigan were planted in 1893, and from that moment forward, we have been working towards ensuring that our robust cherry industry is known around the globe,” said Gordon. “The Traverse City Cherry Festival is the culmination and celebration of the hard work that goes into our industry every day.”
Great Lakes Packing Company (GLPC) is a leading processor of tart and sweet cherries located in the heart of Michigan’s cherry country. GLPC began as a family enterprise in 1972 and has grown into a larger family of vertically integrated, predominantly grower-owned companies bringing Michigan cherries from farm to table locally and worldwide.
The cherries GLPC processes are raised over a wide geographic area by people who take pride in growing the finest fruit. The company takes care to operate responsibly in the environment to benefit growers, shareholders, employees, and consumers.
Orchard View Farm is owned by Paul D. Hubbell of Williamsburg, president of the Grand Traverse Fruit Growers' Council. Hubbell has been farming for more than 35 years.
Altonen Orchards is a second, third and fourth-generation family farm focusing on selling seasonable fresh fruits and vegetables to Northern Michigan. They work hard to provide high-quality products that also include great taste.
Throughout 2022, MDARD Director Gary McDowell and other members of MDARD are meeting with Michigan's food and agricultural businesses having conversations focused on how they can continue to thrive in Michigan's new economy and how best MDARD can assist their continuous development.
