MDARD Awards Nearly $500,000 to Create Regenerative Farmer Networks across Michigan

Initiative furthers statewide work prioritizing soil health and regenerative practices

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced nearly $500,000 of grant funding to build twelve regenerative farmer networks that will promote sustainable farming throughout the state.  

“Regenerative agriculture gives Michigan farmers practical, scalable tools to manage rising input costs while building healthier soils, improving resiliency and strengthening long-term profitability,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “By investing in farmer-led networks, we’re creating opportunities for producers to learn from one another, test new approaches and more quickly adopt practices that benefit Michigan farms. These peer connections will help accelerate real, on-the-ground results for both farm operations and the environment.”

Today’s grants will support the creation of 12 new farmer networks across Michigan:

Mid-Michigan

• Ionia Resilient Farmer Network: $45,000
• Regenerative Ecology & Livestock Integration Collective: $45,000
• Michigan Forever Green Field Crops: $40,397.10 

Northern Michigan

• NEMI Regenerative Ag Network: $29,750
• Michigan RegenVine Network $45,000 

Southeast Michigan

• Grown in Detroit: Regenerative Network: $42,500
• Southern Michigan Small Grains Pilot Network: $43,965
• Washtenaw County Agroecology Network: $44,238.60 

Southwest Michigan

• West Michigan Small Scale Regenerative Farmer Network: $45,000 

West Michigan

• Regenerative Tree Fruit Network: $31,500
• Regenerative Pear Growers Network: $42,500 

Upper Peninsula

• From The Ground League of Growers: $42,500 

These farmer-led networks have committed to:

• Promoting the adoption of core regenerative principles, 
• Testing new and innovative regenerative practices, and  
• Sharing successes and challenges and providing mentorship.  

“What energizes us most is bringing together a community of farmers who share a passion for regenerative agriculture,” said Joe Hetrick, a farmer in the Regenerative Ecology & Livestock Integration Collective. “It’s a chance to trade ideas, support each other and invite both consumers and fellow producers to see firsthand how regenerative practices create healthier land, healthier food and resilient farms.”

MDARD's Regenerative Agriculture Program is one of the first in the nation to be embedded within a state agriculture agency. Since its creation in 2024, the program has advanced a regenerative approach to agriculture that fosters prosperity, enhances farm ecosystems, improves community health and supports resilient agricultural systems throughout the Great Lakes region. 

In addition to the Regenerative Farmer Network Grants, the program has: 

• Launched a free soil health assessment initiative to help farmers identify management practices to boost productivity.
• Established a training farm to train veterans in partnership with the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids. 
• Awarded funding to conservation districts across the state to expand and enhance education and outreach events that promote regenerative agriculture practices and farmer-to-farmer networks.  

Regenerative agriculture is an active approach to land management that promotes long-term farm sustainability and food security by minimizing soil disturbance, maximizing plant diversity and integrating livestock into farming operations to improve nutrient cycling and profitability. Regenerative practices can complement or improve conventional agriculture systems, helping farms become more resilient, productive and profitable over the long term.

For more information about efforts to promote sustainable farming, visit MDARD's regenerative agriculture web page.

###

Icons.Email Sign up to receive MDARD news