As the new year begins, the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) has realigned to a structure containing four bureaus that combine programs to better achieve shared outcomes and department priorities. The Agriculture Development Bureau now includes the Food and Ag Business Development Division and Producer Services Division. Each division comprises different programs from within MDARD that will work together to continue providing excellent service to the food and agriculture industries in Michigan. 

The bureau aims to assist producers across the state while continuing to drive economic development and growing opportunities for value-added food processing and job creation.    

Below are the programs now housed within the Agriculture Development Bureau.   

Food and Ag Business Development Division  

Economic and Community Development Program – Our team works, in conjunction with various partners and service providers, to help businesses with many different development opportunities whether they are looking to expand their business, relocate their business, or start a new business in Michigan.  

 International Marketing – The mission of the International Marketing Program is to assist Michigan food and ag businesses in developing both domestic and international market opportunities to effectively grow their business. They do this by offering a variety of export marketing programs and services including trade shows and buyers’ missions.  

Michigan Craft Beverage Council – The Michigan Craft Beverage Council is a 10-member, governor-appointed board comprised of industry professionals and government personnel who help to facilitate research, promotion, and agricultural business development efforts for the unique industry that is Michigan Craft Beverage.  

Grants Program – Our Grant Program team works to provide businesses, organizations, and communities with funding needed to help to improve and support the Michigan food and agriculture industry.   

Intercounty Drains – County and Intercounty Drains play a key role in the development of agriculture, roads and highways, residential, and commercial properties by removing excess soil moisture, reducing flood impacts, and improving public health throughout the state.  

Producer Services Division  

Farmland Preservation – The mission of the Farmland Preservation team is to preserve farmland and open space from being developed for non-agricultural uses.  

Migrant Labor Housing – The program provides a means of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of migratory laborers and their families who occupy agricultural labor camps through the annual licensing of sites occupies or used as living quarters.  

Private Lands Forestry – Programs that are under the Private Forestlands Initiative including the Qualified Forest Program, Forestry Assistance Program, and the  

Qualified Forester Registration. These programs help to actively manage private forestland within Michigan.  

Producer Security – The Producer Security team licenses individuals and businesses who receive, buy, exchange, sell, or store dry edible beans, soy beans, small grains, cereal grains and/or corn in the state of Michigan.  

Fruit and Vegetable – Offers an unbiased, third-party inspection service for the produce industry in Michigan and throughout the United States.   

Business Services – The Business Services team works to provide financial support throughout the bureau to different programs. 

MDARD has launched a new grants management system, MiAgGrants - a streamlined system to reduce user barriers and allow more access to MDARD’s grant opportunities.     

The new MiAgGrants system is designed to help manage MDARD’s grant programs from Request for Proposal to closing out a grant award. This includes data management, financial review assistance, and active grant monitoring for applicant, grant, and grantee information. For ease of access, the system will support the development of an electronic grant application submission, a competitive application review process, and management of the awarded grant projects.  

Additionally, this system will allow MDARD to send applicants reminders and communicate more efficiently with grantees. Along with this new grant management system, new grant program opportunities will be available via the system in 2024 including a Value-Added Regional Food Systems Grant, a Resilient Food System Infrastructure Grant, a Minority Program Grant, and an already open Specialty Crop Block Grant. 

We’re excited to share that the Michigan Agriculture Facts and Figures Booklets are now available in hard copy and digital formats on the MDARD website!    

The Michigan Agriculture Facts and Figures booklets strives to share information about the numerous commodities grown in the state of Michigan. Michigan agriculture contributes more than $104.7 billion annual to the state’s economy.   

The booklet features seasonality, nutrition and other information about the commodities grown in Michigan. It also contains the contact information for each commodity group in the state.   

Thank you to the Michigan commodity groups that took the time to help with making sure that all the information in this booklet is accurate!   

Access the booklet here. 

The Wastewater Infrastructure Fund Grant is still accepting applications. The goal of this grant is to help companies to ensure compliance with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s wastewater regulations under their Groundwater Discharge Permit. The funding for this program is continual and applications will be accepted until all funding is exhausted.

Companies will first submit an electronic pre-qualification form online available on the MDARD grant page. The pre-qualification form will be reviewed, and MDARD staff will contact companies with questions and next steps.   

For more information on the MDARD Grants programs, visit Michigan.gov/mdardgrants.