Learn about MDARD's four bureaus, including contact information, by clicking the above link, or view specific information below.
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.
This area contains information for press and media agencies. Press Releases, Pics, Podcasts & Videos
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.
Information about how MDARD's Agriculture Development Division can help you grow your business in Michigan.
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.
For the registration of horses, breeders and owners so as to render them eligible for racing and breeder/owner awards.
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.
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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How do I find a Qualified Forester to write a FMP?
Landowners seeking the Qualified Forest Program tax exemption must obtain a forest management plan written by a Qualified Forester. Qualified Foresters are forest resource professionals, registered with the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, that are knowledgeable in forest management practices.
Qualified Forester Registration Instructions
| Checklist |
|---|
| Name, address, phone number, email address, and dated signature of each owner of the property |
| Qualified forester name, signature, date, and contact information |
| Legal description of the property and tax parcel identification number |
| Plan start year and end year (maximum plan length is 20 years). |
| Statement of landowner’s forest management objectives |
| Prescribed measures to optimize timber |
| Schedule and timetables for various silvicultural practices within each management unit (stand). |
Description of practice (associated with time table):
|
| Map, diagram, or aerial photograph that identifies forested and non-forested areas. All of the information below should be identified with use of conventional mapping symbols traditionally used by the Department of Natural Resources (IFMAP Classification).
Note: If the management plan covers more land than being enrolled in QFP, the stands map must identify the land being enrolled in the Qualified Forest Program.
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Description of soil conservation practices:
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Description of management activities for non-timber resources including:
|
When completing the Harvest Schedule section of the QFP Stand Summary and Harvest Schedule, use ONLY the key words (bolded) below.
Stand Type Symbols
The following three programs provide certification that management and harvest of the forest is done in a sustainable fashion. There are many reasons you may wish to consider participation in one or all three of the certifications. You may be concerned for the environment. Also, if your plan calls for a harvest, some timber processing facilities may prefer timber harvested under one or all three of the systems. There may also be a premium paid for timber harvested in a certified sustainable manner, although such a premium may or may not be available depending on the processor.
We are providing this document so that you may make informed choices regarding sustainable management and harvest of your land. If you are scheduled for a harvest, it is important to discuss the harvest with your forest management plan writer. When you speak with them, also ask about the certification options and whether participation in any or all three of the options is appropriate for you and your land.
FSC is a member driven council that has established international standards for the management and harvest of timber and the chain of custody of the harvested timber from the land to the processing facility to creation of various wood products. As a “low intensity” and/or small forest (<2000 acres) landowner, you have the potential to be part of a FSC accredited landowner group, which allows multiple landowners to be certified under one certificate rather than be individually certified. While individual certification can be very cost-prohibitive, group certification is set up in a way that it can be relatively inexpensive or even free to individual landowners. The FSC compliant group standards (which are audited annually by an independent FSC certified accredited auditing body) certifies your forestland based on your management plan and associated practices in the plan. FSC requires that all links in the chain of custody be FSC Certified from the purchasers of your stumpage to the network of FSC Certified companies on its way to a finished product.
The following web site will provide you additional information about FSC Certification.
https://us.fsc.org/en-us/certification
Michigan Contact: Currently, there is no FSC program for family forest owners in Michigan.
SFI is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable forest management, primarily in North America and is also accepted globally. This option contains a Forest Management Standard, a Fiber Sourcing Standard (recycled content and certified forest and a Chain-of-Custody Standard). SFI places a Certified Sourcing label and a Chain-of-Custody label. To become Certified under the SFI program an application is submitted for participation in SFI. SFI contracts an accredited certification body to complete an on-site audit to verify the SFI forest management standard has been met.
Michigan Contact: Brandon Bal
Email: brandon.bal@afmforest.com
ATFS is a program that certifies that your forest management practices are conducted in a sustainable manner based on a forest management plan that meets the standards established by ATFS. A management plan that addresses air, water, soil quality, wildlife, special sites, invasive species and pest management as well as other forest practices consistent with the ATFS standards are an important part of the program. A landowner contacts ATFS and if the site meets the eligibility requirements an AFTS trained inspecting forester meets with the landowner on site and verifies the standards are being met.
https://www.treefarmsystem.org/
Michigan Contact: Mike Smalligan
Email: SmalliganM@michigan.gov