MDARD’s Farm to Family Program Announces New Grant Opportunity

Regenerative Value Chains Grant will support infrastructure, marketing needs for farmers using regenerative agriculture

LANSING, Mich.—Today, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's (MDARD) innovative Farm to Family Program is announcing its next grant opportunity, which will focus on expanding market opportunities for farmers using regenerative agriculture practices. 

Selected recipients will receive funding for purchases that may include on-farm point-of-sale equipment, marketing materials, light processing equipment and washing and packing infrastructure. Examples of eligible expenses include meat freezers for livestock producers that use rotational grazing or marketing services to highlight regenerative practices on product packaging.

"Our Farm to Family team is facilitating first-of-its-kind work to connect more Michiganders with fresh, healthy food while simultaneously increasing opportunities for farmers and growers who want to feed their communities,"  said MDARD Director Tim Boring.  "We know that utilizing regenerative practices improves outcomes, so focusing on operations that are prioritizing intentional land management is the next natural step as we continue to strengthen our regional food systems."

This is Farm to Family's third grant opportunity since the program launched 18 months ago thanks to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's leadership and bipartisan support in the legislature. The program s first grant  Food Hubs and Farm Stops  has now translated to more than $1 million in local food purchasing and moving more than 140,000 pounds of produce and protein around Michigan. Farm to Family s second grant opportunity  Last Food Mile  plans to announce recipients at the beginning of May.

MDARD will accept applications through the MIAgGrants portal until Friday, May 1 at 5 p.m. ET. Applicants for this funding opportunity must be farmers in Michigan who can describe how they apply regenerative principles to their operation. Grant awards will be capped at $50,000.

Those interested in learning more about the grant opportunity are encouraged to participate in a virtual information session this Thursday, April 2 at 9:30 a.m. Details and connectivity can be found on the grant's webpage. There you will also find a full list of eligibility requirements. All applications must be submitted through the MiAgGrants system.

Questions about the application process can be emailed to the Farm to Family team.

MDARD's Farm to Family Program continues to receive national attention for the work it's doing to connect small and medium farmers, growers and agribusinesses with more local market opportunities thus ensuring Michiganders have more access to food from their own communities. 

In December, the program launched the Good Food for Michigan project, which will prioritize assisting Michigan institutions like community colleges and hospitals with obtaining healthy food grown by Michigan farmers and producers.

MDARD's Regenerative Agriculture Program, another bipartisan initiative started under Governor Whitmer's leadership, is working to give Michigan farmers the tools needed to improve their soil health and profits. More information on regenerative practices can be found on the program's webpage. 

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