Land Management and Access

Unlocking opportunities and overcoming challenges in land management and access. Whether it's succession planning, finding the right lease agreement, or understanding the Right to Farm Act, we're here to help you navigate the complexities of land ownership and usage.

Land Access

  • Available Organic Farm Land

    Michigan Organic Farm and Food Alliance

    This site lists organic farmland available for sale or lease. When possible, these listings will also be cross posted in the land link section of the MIFarmLink website.

  • Black Farmers Fund

    Washtenaw County Black Farmers Fund

    The Washtenaw County Black Farmers Fund (WCBFF) is transforming our community through food
    sovereignty and land justice by investing in Black Farmers who have long been denied access to
    land and resources. They are a coalition of nonprofits, farmers, and community members working
    to build a more equitable and just food system. Funding is available for aspiring Black Farmers
    living or farming in Washtenaw, Jackson, Ingham, Livingston, Oakland, Wayne, Monroe, and
    Lenawee counties of Michigan who produce nutritious food and supply the Washtenaw County
    foodshed.

  • Farm Real Estate Services

    Farmers National Company

    This is a private for profit company website that offers a variety of real estate services to farmers,
    including a searchable database of farmland listings, a few of which are located in Michigan.

  • Intertribal Agriculture Council

    Intertribal Agriculture Council

    The mission of IAC is to pursue and promote the conversation, developments and use of our
    agricultural resources for the betterment of American Indian people. They conduct a wide range of
    programs designed to further the goal of improving Indian Agriculture. The IAC promotes the Indian
    use of Indian resources and contracts with federal agencies to maximize resources for tribal members.

  • MIFFS Educational Resources

    MIFFS
    Can't find what you're looking for here? No worries. Our partners at Michigan Food and Farming Systems also have an expansive library of resources that might be able to help you.

  • Minority & Women Farmers & Ranchers Programs

    USDA Farm Service Agency

    By statute, FSA targets a portion of all Guaranteed loan funds, Direct Operating and Direct Farm
    Ownership loan funds, Microloan funding, and Youth loans, to historically underserved farmers and
    ranchers.

  • Native American Agriculture Fund

    NAAF Charitable Trust

    The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) is a private, charitable trust serving Native farmers
    and ranchers created from the historic Keepseagle v. Vilsack litigation settlement. The Trusts
    Mission shall be to make grants to Eligible Grant Recipients, described in section 8, to fund the
    provision of business assistance, agricultural education, technical support, and advocacy services
    to Native American farmers and ranchers to support and promote their continued engagement in
    agriculture.

  • Toolbox for Farm Seekers

    Land for Good

    If you're a beginning farmer exploring your options to get onto land, or an established farmer ready to expand, relocate or rethink your land situation, this toolbox offers guides, worksheets, articles and other resources to inform your decision-making and guide your planning and search for farmland. If you are not yet farming, you'll want to prepare and develop a plan before you even begin searching for land. Materials are most relevant to farming and farms in New England, but many may apply elsewhere.

Land Preservation

  • Farmland and Open Space Program

    Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

    The Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program or Public Act 116 (PA 116) Program
    preserves farmland from being developed for non-agricultural uses. Landowners can enter into
    agreements that protect their land for 10-99 years and receive an annual income tax credit. They
    can also choose to donate their development rights permanently.

  • Michigan Farmland Preservation

    Washtenaw County Conservation District

    The State of Michigan offers incentives in the form of tax breaks for landowners that meet certain
    requirements. The PA 116 agreement creates a temporary restriction on the land between the State
    and a landowner, voluntarily entered into by a landowner, preserving their land for agriculture in
    exchange for certain tax benefits and exemptions for various special assessments. (commonly
    known as PA 116).

  • MIFFS Educational Resources

    MIFFS
    Can't find what you're looking for here? No worries. Our partners at Michigan Food and Farming Systems also have an expansive library of resources that might be able to help you.

Lease Agreements

  • ATF Land Transfer Curriculum

    American Farmland Trust

    As part of their Great Lakes Navigator Network, the American Farmland has put together some curriculum materials to help farmers navigate land transfer - both from the land-seller and seeker sides. If you would like access to these materials, please send an email to jill.dohner@macd.org we will get the most up to date version to you!

  • MIFFS Educational Resources

    MIFFS
    Can't find what you're looking for here? No worries. Our partners at Michigan Food and Farming Systems also have an expansive library of resources that might be able to help you.

Right to Farm Act

  • MIFFS Educational Resources

    MIFFS
    Can't find what you're looking for here? No worries. Our partners at Michigan Food and Farming Systems also have an expansive library of resources that might be able to help you.

Succession Planning

  • Agricultural Conservation Easements

    American Farmland Trust

    There are programs across the country that will purchase the development rights to farmland in order to create an agricultural conservation easement that protects the land from development in perpetuity. This site can help you locate a program near you, along with a plethora of other farmland protection tools, resources, policy information, and more.

  • Business Coaching & Succession Planning

    Jessen Coaching

    Carl Jessen led financial institutions in Nebraska and Michigan for 30 years, and uses that well of
    experience to help farmers create succession plans. Carl also facilitates the GreenStone Farm
    Credit Services Farm Forward Mentor Program.

  • Financial Advising

    AgriStrategies LLC

    AgriStrategies is a third-party, independent, advisor that offers perspectives and assistance to your management team on an ongoing basis and helps your lenders better understandyour business and your industry. They focus on defining success, assessing strengths, and then leveraging those strengths to achieve success with a plan that shows lenders the potential of your business.

  • Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program

    Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

    MAEAP helps and recognizes farmers who reduce erosion and runoff from private land into public
    waters. The program is adminstered by MDARD and delivered by your local conservation district.

  • Michigan Farm Bureau

    Farm Business Resources page

    Michigan Farm Bureau is Michigan's voice of agriculture. This grassroots organization helps guide
    policy at the local, state, and national level. Their Farm Business Resources page has a information
    and tools on a wide variety of farm related topics, such as legal resources, drones, and
    commodities.

  • MIFFS Educational Resources

    MIFFS
    Can't find what you're looking for here? No worries. Our partners at Michigan Food and Farming Systems also have an expansive library of resources that might be able to help you.