Learn about MDARD's four bureaus, including contact information, by clicking the above link, or view specific information below.
Find a schedule of MDARD's public meetings online, or locate regularly published reports below.
This area contains information for press and media agencies: press releases, pics, alerts & videos
The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development recommends and determines policy on food, agricultural, and rural development issues. MDARD oversees several additional boards and commissions.
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.
Live, work and play in Michigan's robust and diverse food and agriculture industry.
Laws and Regulations pertaining to and governing the actions and policies of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development.
Animal ID and movement requirements in the State of Michigan
Animal health resources for veterinary professionals.
Diseases affecting, or potentially affecting, animals in Michigan
Information on how to acquire a feed license to manufacture or distribute commercial feed in Michigan.
Rules governing the disposal of Bodies of Dead Animals (BODA).
Materials developed to provide information on how an individual may become a qualified Animal Control Officer.
Find funding for your organization.
Information about how MDARD's Agriculture Development Division can help you grow your business in Michigan.
Regenerative agricultural practices improve soil health and water quality
MDARD works with local providers of natural resource management services that help citizens implement conservation on their land and protect the environment for a cleaner, healthier, and economically stronger Michigan.
Farmland Preservation
Programs under the Private Forestlands Initiative, including the Forestry Assistance Program, Qualified Forester Registration, and Qualified Forest Program.
MAEAP helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent or minimize agricultural pollution risks. We are here to help and recognize farmers who reduce erosion and runoff from private land into public waters.
The Cottage Food law, enacted in 2010, allows individuals to manufacture and store certain types of foods in an unlicensed home kitchen.
The food industry is responsible for producing safe food. Government sets standards, conducts inspections, and monitors food. Consumers also play a huge role in keeping their food safe and wholesome. Learn more.
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.
Good migrant labor housing is an essential element in securing an adequate supply of seasonal agricultural workers.
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.
For help with the sale, use, and disposal of pesticides, including labels and integrated pest management.
The plant health program protects agricultural and environmental resources through the early detection and management of invasive species and the inspection of plants and plant products for pests and diseases, while facilitating international and domestic commerce.
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.
Fertilizer License and Registration Requirements, as well as Liming License Requirements
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March 02, 2026
Lansing, Mich.— The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) invites Michiganders to celebrate an important consumer watchdog during National Weights and Measures Week, March 1-7.
MDARD's Weights and Measures Program safeguards fairness and accuracy in tens of thousands of commercial transactions throughout Michigan each year. The program s metrologists ensure that accurate weights and measures are used statewide so that consumers know they re getting the quantity they paid for when purchasing goods by weight or volume, such as meats, produce, pop and gasoline.
Photos of MDARD's Weights and Measures Program in action are available for media use.
"Many of us take accurate weights and measures for granted, but they are essential to our safety, prosperity and everyday lives," said Craig VanBuren, director of MDARD's Laboratory and Consumer Protection Bureau. "MDARD's weights and measures inspectors work quietly but effectively to protect Michigan consumers from unfair business practices and to maintain predictability and transparency in our commerce."
Last year, MDARD's Weights and Measures Program investigated more than 300 consumer complaints and conducted more than 18,000 net content inspections, more than 61,000 retail motor fuel dispenser inspections and nearly 1,200 inspections of non-fuel weighing and measuring devices. The program also launched an Electric Vehicle Fueling Certification in its Service Registration Program, which will help ensure that Michiganders receive the precise amount of energy they purchase at electric vehicle charging stations.
MDARD's E.C. Heffron Metrology Laboratory is one of the only state facilities that is accredited under ISO 17025, which is the international standard for competency in testing and calibration. The Heffron Lab s metrologists, who are specialists in the science of weights and measures, verify and test a wide array of scales and other measuring instruments to ensure they meet regulatory standards.
"We promote equity in the marketplace and make sure consumers are getting what they pay for and that businesses aren't giving products away either," said MDARD Metrology Lab Manager Nick Santini. "For people with an aptitude in math and science, metrology is a great place to use those skills and be challenged."
National Weights and Measures Week commemorates the moment President John Adams signed the first U.S. weights and measures statute on March 2, 1799. The United States Congress expanded on that statute in 1901 by establishing the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which maintains many of the standard reference materials employed by MDARD and weights and measures authorities in other states.
Michigan consumers with concerns about any advertisement, purchase, service or transaction based on weight, measure or count may call 800-632-3835 to register a complaint with MDARD.
Visit MDARD's website to learn more about the State of Michigan's Weights and Measures Program.
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ByHeart infant formula continues to be found for sale in surplus and distressed food sales locations around Michigan. A recall was initiated, and later expanded in November 2025, for possible contamination with Clostridium botulinum
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced today that it awarded $296,299 to Conservations Districts across the state to expand and enhance education and outreach events that promote regenerative agriculture practices and farmer-to-farmer networks.
“Scholarship funding encourages continued growth and opportunities for younger generations,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “MDARD's mission is to improve quality of life for Michiganders and supporting the future of our industry is another tangible way we work toward that goal.”
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reporting a case of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in a dairy herd from Charlevoix County, located west of Michigan’s Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ) —an area where the disease is known to be present in the white-tailed deer population.
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.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. March 31, 2026. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced today that it will accept applications for the 2026 Michigan Agriculture Exporter of the Year Award now through 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced today that the Michigan Clean Sweep Program has now safely disposed of more than four million pounds of potentially hazardous pesticide containers since its creation in 1996. The milestone follows a record-breaking year in 2025, when the program collected nearly 280,000 pounds of old or excess pesticide products – the largest annual total in Clean Sweep history.