Regulatory Compliance and Environmental Conservation

Michigan’s 75 Conservation Districts (CDs) are your local providers of natural resource management services -- much like your local fire, police, health, and school services. We're also your neighbors, helping fellow Michiganders conserve their lands and waterways so our environment can be a cleaner, healthier, economically stronger place to live, work and grow for our community. Follow the link to locate your local conservation district and gain access to cost-share for conservation practices and much more.

The Natural Resource Conservation Service, a USDA agency, offers access to the many different Farm Bill programs geared toward conservation practices like manure storage, chemical handling facilities, pollinator habitats, cover crops, and much more. Each County in Michigan has a district conservationist that can help landowners enroll.

The USDA Farm Service Agency is the point of access for Farm Bill programs that provide loan assistance, insurance products, and other risk management tools. FSA has offices throughout the State.

Pair this application infographic with MIFFS' larger "Guide to EQIP" for all of MIFFS best tips on utilizing this NRCS program on your farm.

MIFFS has assembled this insider's guide to the Natural Resource Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which is designed to fund farming practices that reduce existing risks to natural resources.

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.

Michigan is home to 22 cooperative invasive species management areas (CISMAs). Each CISMA operates cross-jurisdictionally to assist in the identification, containment and management of invasive plants across the state. If you are in need of technical assistance or resources to help manage invasives on your property, do not hesitate to reach out to your local CISMA for help. You can find a map of their respective counties here: https://www.michiganinvasives.org/managementareas/

Eligible applicants for Local MCap grants include business entities (regardless of legal structure) engaged in meat and poultry processing, including rendering animal carcasses or byproducts. Eligible entities include Tribes and Tribal Entities, for-profit entities, non-profit entities, and State or local government entities. Private entities must be independently owned and operated, and all applicants must be domestically owned. Additionally, applicants’ facilities must be physically located within the 50 States of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Food safety certification is no easy undertaking. While there are many reasons to go the certification route, a central reason is market access. Whether you already have a buyer asking for it, hope to gain a new buyer through it, or just want to get ahead of the curve, food safety certification is a useful tool in moving your produce from farm to table. There is a lot more to using this tool than just passing an audit. Once your certification is in hand, how do you communicate it to existing or potential buyers? What types of buyers ask for it? While many guides reference food safety certification, they typically only describe how to get certified, not what happens after. This guide aims to show you how your certification can be a catalyst for growth.

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) helps and recognizes farmers who reduce erosion and runoff from private land into public waters. The program is administered by MDARD and delivered by your local conservation district.

Michigan is the only state with a Produce Safety Technician program dedicated to providing on-farm technical education for fresh produce farmers. Better yet, technicians are a free, voluntary, confidential, non-regulatory resource.

The Midwest Grazing Exchange is an online platform that aims to connect graziers and landowners. This service matches livestock to land. Graziers can search for forage to graze and landowners can search for livestock to graze their land. Integrating livestock on the landscape is a win-win for soil and animals - let the matchmaking begin!

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

The Beginning Farmers DEMaND series is a line of publications from Michigan State University Extension. These publications are designed to help beginning farmers learn about financial and business management strategies that will assist them in developing into the next managers and decision-makers on the farm.

Agriculture in Ottawa County is diverse and bountiful, with over 1200 farms including dairy farms, greenhouses, blueberries, and so much more. Ottawa County farmers seek to conserve and protect the land they farm and the water that surrounds us by using practices such as cover crops, grass waterways, and assistance transitioning to no-till. The Ottawa Conservation District offers several services and resources for farmers, such as financial assistance for conservation practices and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program.

The focus of Microloans is on the financing needs of small, beginning farmer, niche and non-traditional farm operations, such as truck farms, farms participating in direct marketing and sales such as farmers’ markets, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture), restaurants and grocery stores, or those using hydroponic, aquaponic, organic and vertical growing methods.

The WCCD provides a variety of services for farmers in the county that range from help with MAEAP verification, navigation of NRCS programs, TOPP, Climate Smart Farm Project, county cost-share opportunities, and invasive species management. They are also the current institutional home of MIFarmLink!

The Natural Resource Conservation Service, a USDA agency, offers access to the many different Farm Bill programs geared toward conservation practices like manure storage, chemical handling facilities, pollinator habitats, cover crops, and much more. Each County in Michigan has a district conservationist that can help landowners enroll.

The USDA Farm Service Agency is the point of access for Farm Bill programs that provide loan assistance, insurance products, and other risk management tools. FSA has offices throughout the State.

Michigan farmers that grow produce are encouraged to use our quick and easy tool to help determine if your farm is covered by this rule. Using this tool will help you:
- Understand your coverage status.
- Receive free, current, and relevant information regarding the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.
- Give your farm a head start when your status becomes covered.

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 information and tools on a wide variety of farm-related topics, such as legal resources, drones, and commodities.

The Michigan Manure Hauler Certification Program is a voluntary training program that helps to prevent manure application problems before they occur through increased nutrient management plan implementation and responsible manure application. There are three levels to the program. Each comes with new skills, relevant information, and an on-site inspection from experts who can help talk through any questions a hauler may have.

Michigan is the only state with a Produce Safety Technician program dedicated to providing on-farm technical education for fresh produce farmers. Better yet, technicians are a free, voluntary, confidential, non-regulatory resource.

The Right to Farm (RTF) program within the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) responds to nuisance complaints involving farms and will assess a farm operation at a farmer's request. Program staff evaluate farm activities to decide whether a farm is following the Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs).

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

Agriculture in Ottawa County is diverse and bountiful, with over 1200 farms including dairy farms, greenhouses, blueberries, and so much more. Ottawa County farmers seek to conserve and protect the land they farm and the water that surrounds us by using practices such as cover crops, grass waterways, and assistance transitioning to no-till. The Ottawa Conservation District offers several services and resources for farmers, such as financial assistance for conservation practices and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program.

The Mission of the Raw Milk Institute is to improve the safety and quality of raw milk and raw milk products through:
- Farmer training and mentoring nationally and internationally.
- Establishing raw milk guidelines and Common Standards.
- Improving consumer access and producer transparency.
- Consumer education about the benefits of raw milk on the immune system and gut microbiome.
- Investment in raw milk research with use of RAWMI test data.

The Raw Milk Institute's Vision is to build a healthier world where raw milk is safe, embraced, and accessible. RAWMI empowers dairy farmers and consumers by providing support from grass to glass and soil to soul.