With the unofficial end to summer now past us, I want to recognize the efforts of the NRCS-Michigan workforce as well as those of our partner organizations and Michigan’s agricultural producers. For anyone who missed Agriculture Secretary Vilsack’s Labor Day message I share his gratitude expressed below:

Each Labor Day, we recognize and celebrate the contributions of our labor force who have built our communities, put food on our tables, and keep our economy running. The origins of Labor Day date back to the height of the Industrial Revolution, when American workers and activists advocated for better treatment and first envisioned a day dedicated to celebrating members of trade and labor unions. Today, Labor Day remains a celebration of American workers and their contributions to our economy.

I am particularly grateful to all of you, who I have the privilege of working with each day to effect meaningful change for all Americans and ensure that our programs reach those who need them most. Because of the work you do, people can ensure that the food they provide for their families is safe, healthy, and affordable. Our work doesn’t stop at the dinner table—it truly reaches the many and the most—protecting public lands from wildfires, addressing climate change with climate smart agriculture, building new resources for underserved communities, and much more. You care deeply about the work you do, and that commitment and dedication to serve the public has made us a transformative USDA.

With gratitude, 

Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack

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NRCS-Michigan recently announced funding availability for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). ACEP includes both Agricultural Land Easements and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). Applications for both programs must be submitted by Oct. 4, for the current round of funding.

The current ACEP funds are available through the Inflation Reduction Act which has provided additional funding for a number of USDA conservation programs. ALE and WRE easements are administered differently under ACEP. ALE funds are available to farmland preservation organizations including local governments, American Indian tribes, and other local or state entities. Landowners who wish to enroll land in ALE apply to the local farmland preservation entity purchasing easements in their area. Land enrolled in ALE are still farmed but the easement restricts their use to agriculture.

WRE easements are purchased from landowners directly by the USDA. Individual landowners who wish to convert farmland that was formerly wetlands apply to NRCS. NRCS selects applications based on their conservation benefits as well as the anticipated cost of restoring the farmland back to a wetland habitat. Land enrolled in WRE still belongs to the landowner who controls access to the property and can use the land for recreational purposes.

The USDA Rose Lake Plant Materials Center in East Lansing co-hosted a Native Pollinator Habitat Field Day with Michigan State University on August 20.

The field day was held to educate farmers on how they can grow native pollinator plants to sell seed and support pollinator habitat restoration projects. Attendees also learned about the work of the Plant Materials Center in cultivating conservation plants to provide seed for commercial production.

The workshop was highlighted on a local television news program.

The Van Buren Conservation District celebrated 80 years of service during it's July 31, Annual Meeting at Brookside Farms near Paw Paw.

The district also announced its Farmer of the Year, Mary Ellis, and its Conservationist of the Year, Steve Bare. Ellis has farmed blueberries in Van Buren County since 1967 when she and her husband Nate purchased the farm from Nate's parents. Bare recently retired from NRCS where he served as a soil conservationist.

George McManus was honored as a farming soil hero with the “Friend of the Conservation District” award. Until his retirement in 2024, George ran a multigenerational farm for 42 years in Benton Harbor.

Congratulations to the Van Buren Conservation District. NRCS looks forward to many more years of partnership to protect our natural resources.

Alyssa Reuter - Natural Resource Specialist, State Office

Last Position: Contract Wetland Delineator
Hometown: Howell
Education: B.S. Applied Ecology and Environmental Science, Concentration in Plant Ecology and Wetlands; Minor in Plant Sciences – Michigan Technological University
Family: Parents, brother, and cats Jax and Twix
Hobbies & Interests: Rock collecting and tumbling, house plants, drawing, painting, music, film, photography

Cameron Thornton - Soil Conservationist, St Johns

Last Position: Amazon Driver
Hometown: Alexandria, Va.
Education: BS Animal Science, Minor
Agricultural Business Management
Family: Mom, Dad, Brother, and Girlfriend
Hobbies & Interests: Aquaponics, football,
playing video games with friends, and biking

Alexis Miller - Soil Conservation Technician, Sandusky

September

5 - Long-Term Agroecosystems Research Field Day, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kellogg Biological Station - Hickory Corners, for more information go to canr.msu.edu/events

5 - Organic Vegetable Production Workshop & Crop Walk, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., MSU Tollgate Farm & Extension Center - Novi, for more information go to canr.msu.edu/events

5 - MCCC Farmer Field Day, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monroe County Community College - Monroe, for more information and to register go to facebook.com/events

7 - Almar Orchards and Cidery MOFFA Farm Tour, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Almar Orchards & Cidery - Flushing, for more information go to canr.msu.edu/events

7 - Kanoe the Kazoo, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Stuart's Landing - Marshall, for more information go to eatoncd.org/events

10 - Doe Management Workshop, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Muskegon Conservation District - Twin Lake, for more information go to www.muskegoncd.store

10 - Invasive Plant Species Workshop, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Freemont Area District Library - Fremont, for more information and to register call 231/225-3201 or email jen.burfield@macd.org

12 - Newaygo Local Work Group Meeting, noon to 1 p.m., Fremont USDA Service Center - Fremont, for more information contact the Newaygo Conservation District at 231/924-2060 ext. 5

13 - Tile Monitoring and Cover Crops for Enhancing Nutrient and Weed Management, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., H & H Harvest - Saline, for more information and to register go to washtenawcd.org/washtenawfieldday.html 

17 - Veggie Vibes at SWMREC, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.,  Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center - Benton Harbor, for more information go to canr.msu.edu/events

19 - Native Plants for Pollinators, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Muskegon Conservation District - Twin Lake, for more information and to register go to muskegoncd.store

21 - Michigan Specialty Cut Flower Farm Tour, 10 a.m. to noon, Forget Me Not Flowers - Ottawa Lake, for more information go to canr.msu.edu/events

25 - Michigan Native Pollinator Habitat Field Day in Kalamazoo, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Native Connections - Kalamazoo, for more information go to canr.msu.edu/events