ICYMI: MDARD Director Highlights FarmStart Proposal in Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Budget Recommendation

OAK PARK, Mich. – Wednesday morning, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring discussed Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Fiscal Year 2027 executive budget recommendation during a roundtable event in Oak Park.

Specifically, Boring shared Gov. Whitmer’s budget priorities for MDARD, which include an innovative program that would create a statewide approach to supporting the industry’s next generation if passed in the next fiscal budget. Photos from the event are available on the department’s Flickr page.

“FarmStart is an example of the intentional investments prioritized at MDARD under Gov. Whitmer’s leadership,” said Boring. “With bipartisan support in the next fiscal budget, FarmStart will build on the success of our Farm to Family Program by coordinating and centralizing resources for the next generation of farmers and agricultural professionals to ensure our food, forestry and agriculture industry remains a powerhouse force in Michigan.”

Gov. Whitmer’s executive budget recommendation includes $2 million to create FarmStart, which will house a Beginning Farmer Resource Hub to centralize existing local, state and national resources related to agricultural education, land access and farm financing. The hub will also connect beginning and next-generation farmers and agricultural professionals to existing departmental programs – like the Farm to Family Program and Regenerative Agriculture Program – while promoting career pathways and supporting the long-term success of future agricultural leaders.

“Our farmers, growers and agribusinesses know firsthand that current federal policies are creating a lot of uncertainty for the future of our industry,” added Boring. “Gov. Whitmer’s budget recommendation makes clear that here in Michigan, we control the controllables to ensure success of the industry’s next chapter.”

Keion Jackson, who owns a goat-grazing operation known as Kaaj Farms, participated in the conversation Wednesday. Right now, his goats and sheep primarily graze urban spaces in and around metro Detroit, including on Belle Isle Park’s invasive plants. He sees FarmStart as an opportunity to assist with marketing himself in other parts of the state.

“A program like FarmStart could really help Kaaj Farms expand and connect to other areas of the state,” said Jackson. “Knowing Gov. Whitmer and MDARD want to see me successful by offering a holistic approach to supporting myself and other young agriculture professionals is empowering. Ensuring we're being good stewards of the land is deeply fulfilling work, and I appreciated being at the table.”

Since Whitmer took office in 2019, MDARD has administered more than a quarter billion dollars in grant funding to strengthen Michigan's food, forestry and agriculture economy; create new jobs; and cultivate rural prosperity. More information about MDARD’s innovative grant programs is available online.

The City of Oak Park is a recent grant recipient for a new food and event space that will accommodate double the vendors the city’s current market welcomes and a fully equipped and commercially licensed shared-use kitchen space. City officials provided an update on the project during a hard-hat tour following the roundtable. Many of the vendors that participated in Wednesday’s discussion will benefit from the new project.

“Our new event hub represents a transformational investment in Oak Park’s future,” said Oak Park City Manager Erik Tungate. “We are deeply grateful to the State of Michigan, MDARD, and all of our public and private partners who helped turn this vision into a reality. When we open this spring and summer, this space will elevate entertainment opportunities, expand our farm market offerings, significantly increase event capacity, and create a true gathering place for our community. This project positions Oak Park to reach new heights as a regional destination for food, culture, and connection.”

Other MDARD budget priorities in Gov. Whitmer’s Fiscal Year 2027 recommendation include:

• $1 million for the Fair Food Network (FFN) Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) Program to support Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants by matching their SNAP benefits spent on fruits and vegetables at participating food establishments.  
  • For every dollar in SNAP benefits used, shoppers receive an additional dollar to spend on fresh, healthy produce, increasing food affordability while supporting local farmers and food retailers across the state.  
• $1 million to combat dangerous food additives by strengthening consumer protection aimed at mitigating public health risks by expanding regulatory oversight of food safety and dietary supplements. 

The DUFB Program expanded during October last year in response to the federal government shutdown. In Fiscal Year 2024, the average SNAP household in Michigan received $335.03 in SNAP benefits per month, which is about $173 per person per month or $5.68 per person per day.

“The Governor's budget reflects how serious her administration is about tackling the affordability crisis head-on,” said FFN CEO Kate Krauss. “Investing in our state’s nutrition security and the economic competitiveness of our farms by fully funding our program is a wise a use of taxpayer dollars.”

More information about the Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget Recommendation is available on the Michigan State Budget Office’s website.

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