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Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative Agriculture
MDARD's commitment to regenerative agriculture
Aligned with the Governor’s MI Healthy Climate Plan, MDARD's Fiscal Year 24 budget provided $6 million to bolster soil health and regenerative agriculture initiatives. This funding supports practices like soil cover maintenance, crop diversity, and livestock integration to mitigate climate impacts.
Additionally, $7 million is allocated to promote climate-smart agricultural methods and innovative technologies, enhancing soil and plant health, carbon sequestration, water efficiency, and conservation efforts through research grants to Michigan State University.
Learn more about how MDARD and our partners and supporting sustainable agricultural practices in Michigan:
Veteran Regenerative Agriculture Demonstration
The Veteran Regenerative Agriculture Demonstration is a farm nestled within the 600-acre Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home (VFWNH) in Eaton Rapids, is paving the way for veterans to engage in regenerative and climate-smart agriculture. This innovative program is a collaboration between the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the VFW National Home, and the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, supported by funding from The Corps Network, in conjunction with AmeriCorps.
Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program
The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is an innovative, proactive program that helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent or minimize agricultural pollution risks. Getting MAEAP verified shows peers and neighbors the high level of commitment to agricultural stewardship and protecting the environment. MAEAP has four systems that address different aspects of the farm: Farmstead, Cropping, Livestock and the newly developed Forest, Wetlands and Habitat System. Each looks at different practices depending on site-specific management and production practices and associated risks.
Additional resources
- Overview of MDARD's Regenerative Agriculture Program (PDF)
- MDARD's Regenerative Agriculture Strategic Plan (PDF)
- Regenerative Agriculture Program Field Coordinator Coverage Map
- The Nature Conservancy
- Michigan State University Center for Regenerative Agriculture
- Michigan Agriculture Advancement
- MDARD Bureau of Environment and Sustainability Organizational Chart
- Conservation Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) Map