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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.
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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.
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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.
CREP is founded upon the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) yet differs from the CRP by offering enhanced financial incentives for participants. In Michigan’s CREP, farmers and other landowners in priority watershed areas agree to enroll eligible parcels of land in the program for 15 years and establish prescribed conservation practices.
In return, landowners receive cost-share assistance in establishing conservation practices. Approved practices include introduced grass planting, native grass planting, field windbreak, filter strips, riparian forest buffer, wetland restoration, and sediment retention-controlled structure.
CREP priority areas include the Lake Macatawa, River Raisin, Saginaw Bay, and Western Lake Erie Basin Watersheds. Eligible land must have a cropping history of four (4) out of six (6) years between 2012-2017 and owned at least 12 months prior to applying. The local Farm Service Agency can help landowners identify suitable parcels of land.
To see full eligibility criteria and to see if you qualify, visit USDA’s Service Center.
Eligible watershed counties include:
* Indicates that only certain portions of these counties are eligible for the program.
Lake Macatawa
*Allegan
*Ottawa
Western Lake Erie Basin
Hillsdale*
Jackson*
Lenawee
Monroe
Washtenaw*
Saginaw Bay
Arenac
Bay
Clare*
Genesee
Gladwin
Gratiot*
Huron*
Iosco*
Isabella
Lapeer*
Livingston*
Mecosta*
Midland
Montcalm*
Oakland*
Ogemaw*
Osceola*
Roscommon*
Saginaw
Sanilac*
Shiawassee*
Tuscola
Farmers and landowners who participate in this program will receive reimbursement for establishing practices, incentive payments for signing up, water quality incentive payment signup for those in the Western Lake Erie Basin, and land rental payments for the length of the contract. See USDA’s Service Center for more information.
Michigan’s CREP focuses on land in Lake Macatawa, River Raisin, and Saginaw Bay Watersheds, and is dedicated to conservation practices that improve water quality and benefit wildlife. CREP will be key in reducing non-point source pollution in rural areas. The program will:
The benefits of Michigan’s CREP go beyond the state’s borders by helping to maintain the purity of the Great Lakes, which make up 20 percent of the world’s surface freshwater. The Great Lakes aesthetic, environmental and commercial value are vitally important to the entire region, and the nation.
CREP will be the key to reducing pollution in rural areas of Michigan. Eligible land will be used to establish specific conservation areas for a period of 15 years. The Natural Resource Conservation Service created program sheets to summarize the conservation practices eligible for CREP. Included in the program sheets are a brief description of the practice, eligibility requirements, installation requirements, management considerations, and maintenance requirements.
Eligible practices include:
Landowners interested in applying for CREP should contact their local USDA’s Service Center. Landowners can also talk with their local conservation district, which can assist with requirements, and contact the USDA Service Center.
Michigan CREP Process Overview
John Switzer
Program Manager
517-284-5606
SwitzerJ3@Michigan.gov
Staci Kienitz
Program Secretary
517-284-5607
KienitzS1@Michigan.gov
Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Constitution Hall, 6th Floor, North Tower
P.O. Box 30017
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Phone: 800-292-3939
Fax: 517-335-3329
