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Welcome to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's (MDARD) Food and Agriculture Business Development Newsletter - your source of information, updates and resources for Michigan's food, agriculture, and forest products industry.
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Success Story
Northwest Michigan is world-renowned for its cherries and wine. Could the region’s small grains and artisan bread be next?
For more than a decade, 9 Bean Rows in Suttons Bay has centered its business on fresh, local ingredients and community connection. This small farmstead and artisan bakery has seen rising customer demand for bread and pasta made with local grains and growing desire by farmers to sell in their communities. There was just one problem: no nearby mill was equipped to handle small grains.
9 Bean Rows owner Jennifer Welty took matters into her own hands and invested in milling equipment to process small grains in-house – a big risk for a small company. Yet Jennifer saw an opportunity not just for her business, but also to revitalize northwest Michigan’s small grain industry, support local farmers, and better serve local communities.
That’s where MDARD entered the story. Jennifer saw a suite of state and federal grants that aligned with her vision of increased access to local foods and greater economic opportunity for farmers and food businesses. In 2025, 9 Bean Rows applied for – and received – a nearly $45,000 grant through MDARD’s Underserved, Value-Added, Regional Food Systems, and Supply Chain Program to support the installation of their milling equipment. The company further advanced the project with subsequent grants from MDARD’s Farm to Family Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program.
Bolstered by these grants – and through a lot of hard work – 9 Bean Rows expects to mill 100,000 pounds of locally grown small grains each year. The milling operation created three new jobs and has the potential to generate $500,000 in sales for local farmers at a time of rising input costs and market uncertainty. Much of the grain will be used to produce artisan bread and pasta sold by a local grocer that employs more than 50 workers year-round.
“MDARD’s support has been essential. Without it, 9 Bean Rows wouldn’t have winter markets for bread and pasta,” said Jennifer Welty. “When you work with MDARD, you gain a partnership that shares your mission and ensures Michigan communities have access to healthy and local food sources.”
What started out as a “small idea” to increase access to locally grown food has grown into a model of agricultural resilience. 9 Bean Rows’ journey wasn’t always easy, but so goes the old proverb: “No pain, no grain.”
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On July 21, MDARD and its partners launched a NextGen Crop Insurance Pilot to give farmers greater choice and flexibility in their coverage options when they implement regenerative practices that improve soil health.
“Current crop insurance coverage has yet to take farms like mine into account,” said Don Morse, who farms over 3,000 acres of corn and soybeans in the Saginaw Bay Watershed. “After decades of practicing soil health, I am looking forward to seeing how my ongoing crop insurance costs will be positively impacted by enrolling in this program. Rewarding resilient farming practices is a positive step for agriculture.”
Research shows that using cover crops, diversifying crop rotations, reducing tillage and other practices that boost soil health can improve farm resiliency and profitability over time. NextGen Crop Insurance was developed to benefit farmers by:
- Granting greater choice and flexibility in pricing and coverage options through the pilot’s captive insurance program.
- Creating the opportunity to receive a dividend after remaining enrolled in the program for at least four years.
- Potentially lowering insurance premiums when soil health practices reduce the risk of crop loss.
- Enabling farmers to keep their existing federal crop insurance and their current insurance agent while receiving supplemental support as they transition to regenerative practices that improve soil health.
“The same practices that can strengthen on-farm resiliency are increasingly the practices that create value in tomorrow’s marketplace,” said Kristin Poley, director of research for Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and an advisory board member for the pilot. “This initiative helps farmers manage risk today while positioning their crop to compete for emerging domestic and export markets.”
Sign up for the NextGen Crop Insurance Pilot
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Does your Michigan farm or food business sell to local schools, hospitals, or other institutions? Are you interested in giving communities more access to nutritious, Michigan-grown foods?
On July 28, MDARD and its partners launched the Good Food for Michigan Pledge, a commitment that food buyers, suppliers, and supporters can take to help strengthen local food purchasing.
“We are building an incredible network of schools, hospitals and institutions bringing food grown in Michigan soil by Michigan farmers,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “With this new pledge, the Good Food for Michigan Project is further expanding its efforts to increase demand for and interest in products grown in the Great Lakes state.”
By signing the pledge, farmers and food producers demonstrate their commitment to strengthening local economies, improving community health and nutrition, and ensuring environmental sustainability.
The Good Food for Michigan Project is a partnership between MDARD, the Center for Good Food Purchasing, and the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems. Still in its first year, the project is helping Bendle Public Schools, Dearborn Public Schools, and the Chippewa-Luce-Mackinac Community Action Agency get more nutritious, Michigan-grown foods to students and seniors.
Take the pledge today!
MDARD Director Tim Boring unveils the Good Food for Michigan Pledge at the state capitol in Lansing (July 28, 2026)
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International Marketing
Looking to expand your food or agriculture business to international markets? Then apply today for Food Export’s Branded Program!
The Branded Program helps small- and medium-sized exporters expand their global reach through cost sharing support for export activities such as participation in select trade shows, advertising, and freight costs for product samples. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be headquartered in the United States
- Be located in the Midwest or Northeast regions
- Meet the U.S. Small Business Administration’s definition of a small business
- Promote products that contain at least 50% U.S. agricultural content by weight
Apply to the Branded Program
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Looking to expand your global reach? Join Food Export in Seoul for their Focused Trade Mission to South Korea from October 27-29, 2026.
South Korea is the third-largest export market for Michigan food, agriculture, and forestry products, with such exports exceeding $159 million in 2025. The upcoming focused trade mission offers the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the South Korean market through:
- Pre-event custom product research
- A market briefing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service
- A retail store tour
- One-on-one meetings with qualified buyers.
Focused Trade Missions qualify for reimbursement for travel for up to two people through Food Export’s Branded Program. Early registration costs $425 and will be open until August 21, 2026.
Visit the Focused Trade Mission to Korea webpage or email MDARD’s International Marketing Program for more details.
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Industry Resources
On July 27, MDARD published the Wholesale Manufactured Foods New Business Guide. This resource provides a clear, step-by-step overview of the minimum requirements needed to plan and operate a wholesale food business in Michigan.
Key steps outlined in the guide include how to:
- Determine which state and federal requirements apply to your food business
- Ensure product labels meet regulatory requirements
- Ensure facilities meet all local and state building, water, and wastewater requirements
- Select and apply for the appropriate license type (limited wholesale food processor, wholesale food processor, or food warehouse)
- Prepare for your pre-licensing inspection
- Contact your MDARD area manufacture food inspector
- Locate other helpful MDARD resources
First page of MDARD's Wholesale Manufactured Foods New Business Guide
The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) is offering two grant opportunities this autumn for small- and medium-sized dairy farms, manufacturers, and processors.
DBIA’s Dairy Business Builder Grants offer up to $150,000 in funding to support projects that:
- Diversify on-farm activity
- Create value-added products (use milk to manufacture cheese, yogurt, etc.)
- Enhance the value of dairy commodities or dairy by-products
- Increase dairy exports
DBIA’s Dairy Industry Impact Grants offer up to $100,000 to support projects that positively impact the dairy industry as a whole. Eligible projects include:
- Dairy export activities such as trade shows and demo programs
- Purchasing energy-efficient or water conservation equipment
- Implementing sustainable packaging options
- Developing dairy by-product innovations
Eligibility requirements and application materials for these grant opportunities are available on the DBIA grants website. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. CT on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
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Industry News
On July 22, MDARD announced a $450,000 Food and Agriculture Investment Program (FAIP) grant to help Star of the West Corn Milling LLC construct a new dry corn mill in Quincy, Michigan.
The $79 million project will include construction of a six-story slipform mill building, warehouse/packaging area, feed loadout structure, and office building. The facility is anticipated to add value to more than five million bushels of Michigan food grade corn in its first year of operation.
“This funding will help us strengthen our supply chain, create new opportunities for Michigan agriculture, and support long-term economic growth in our community,” said Karina Spencer, Executive Vice President of Star of the West’s Flour Milling Division. “We appreciate MDARD's commitment to investing in innovative food and agriculture businesses that add value to Michigan-grown products and help build a stronger, more resilient agricultural economy."
On July 16, MDARD Director Tim Boring joined owner Mike Hildebrand and local leaders at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Hildebrand Fruit Farms’ new packing facility in Berrien Springs.
Hildebrand is expanding as the family farm prepares to celebrate its centennial next year. The expansion project, which was funded in part by a $175,000 MDARD Food and Agriculture Investment Program grant, doubled the square footage of Hildebrand’s packing operation, increased capacity and equipment options, and will help create two new jobs.
“MDARD is proud to support Hildebrand Fruit Farms through this Food and Agriculture Investment grant, and we’re excited to help cut the ribbon on the new building,” said Director Boring said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Expansion projects like the one we’re celebrating today strengthen regional food systems, support jobs, and ultimately drive economic impact. With a rich history and dedication to community, farms like Hildebrand are the backbone of Michigan’s agriculture industry. Congratulations to Mike, his family and the entire Hildebrand operation.”
Read more about Hildebrand Fruit Farms’ expansion.
MDARD Director Tim Boring and Hildebrand Fruit Farms Owner Mike Hildebrand sample peaches in Berrien Springs (July 16, 2026)
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