State Conservationist Garry Lee

If 2024 seemed like an exceptionally busy time for NRCS employees delivering USDA conservation programs it wasn’t an illusion. Fiscal year 2024 saw NRCS provide $69.8 million in conservation financial assistance through our two main programs, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. Thanks to funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, more USDA conservation assistance than ever was available to Michigan’s farmers and private forestland owners. For comparison, in fiscal year 2023, Michigan producers received just over $42 million through these two programs.

Delivering this amount of assistance is a testament to the hard work of our employees and partners and to the willingness of Michigan’s farmers and producers to utilize these resources to protect our natural resources. The impact of this work will not be immediately felt, but it will have a positive impact on our state’s water, soil, wildlife, and other natural resources for many years to come.

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Each issue of this newsletter introduces our new NRCS-Michigan employees, the end of the calendar year is when we recognize employees who have completed their NRCS careers.

In 2024, we had five employees retire who represent over 132 years of combined service to our agency. They are listed in the order that they retired starting with Chris Johnson in January. On behalf of NRCS-Michigan, I wish them well and greatly appreciate their contributions to our mission of protecting our state’s natural resources. Happy New Year!

2024 Retirements

Chris Johnson - Area Engineer, Grand Rapids, 36 years

David Buck – Agricultural Engineer, Traverse City, 31 years

William Borgeld – District Conservationist, Petoskey, 35 years

Jeff Yurchick – Civil Engineer, Kimball, 17 years

Dan Zay – State Resource Conservationist, East Lansing, 13 years

Reducing fertilizer and pesticide usage is a win-win, for the environment and farmers. With assistance from the USDA Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Northpoint Farms is utilizing a “smart sprayer” to more efficiently apply pesticides to the farm’s orchard crops.

Enrolling in CSP was a good fit for Northpoint Farms, which is located northeast of Traverse City and is owned and operated by Brandon Hubbell and his family. Northpoint Farms has worked with NRCS for over 20 years implementing conservation practices such as an agrichemical mixing facility, cover crops, and a forest management plan, through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Hubbell enrolled in CSP in 2021, the program provides an annual payment based on the conservation practices that were already in place. The minimum annual payment is $4,000 for maintaining the existing stewardship and the program requires that participants address an additional resource concern over the 5-year contract period. Hubbell selected a CSP enhancement to reduce his pesticide use through the use of precision application. To accomplish this, he purchased a smart sprayer attachment which he retrofitted to his truck-mounted sprayer.

The smart sprayer has optical sensors that shuts off the sprayer between trees. Reducing the amount of pesticides he applies, reduces the risk of contamination to surface and ground water and also saves money. “I know it saves,” said Hubbell. He stated he can go at least 30 minutes longer on each tank of pesticide he applies, saving not only on the cost of pesticides but also on time and fuel with fewer refills.

Northpoint Farms includes 300 acres, consisting primarily of cherry and apples orchards but also some pears and plumbs. Hubbell’s goal is to make more money on the same number of acres, reducing his annual agrichemical costs of over $150,000 through precision application contributes. The CSP enhancement didn’t cover the entire cost of his smart sprayer, but it helps, said Hubbell. He already plans to renew his CSP contract for another five years which requires the farm to address two additional resources concerns. Two enhancements he is considering are improving the efficiency of his nutrient applications and creating monarch butterfly habitat.

Connecting people to their food is the goal of Alpena Hoophouse, a community garden on the campus of Alpena Community College.

Alpena Hoophouse is one of the many community gardens registered as an official USDA People’s Garden. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack started the first People’s Garden on February 12, 2009, Lincoln’s 200th birthday.

“I want to build a sustainable culture, food can do that, food heals,” said garden director Amy Dodge.

Dodge grew up in Alpena and returned 17 years ago after working and raising a family in Florida. The garden was already established when Dodge returned home and became a “professional volunteer.” When a new manager was needed for the garden Dodge stepped up.

The garden includes a hoop house in addition to a small potting shed and outdoor garden plots. Even a lakeshore community with a thriving downtown has people in need and the Alpena People’s Garden donates fresh produce to several local charities. One of these organizations is All Saints Parish which provides free meals six days a week at a former Catholic school.

The free meals help people on fixed incomes save money while also providing a place to socialize, said Christina Kihn of All Saints Parish Center of Charity. In addition to people on fixed incomes there were three homeless encampments around Alpena, said Kihn.

The garden, which is registered as a non-profit organization, obtained a grant from AARP to pay seniors for working at the garden. They hope to obtain a second grant that would also pay young people to work at the garden. The extra help will be needed as Dodge hopes to replace the garden’s hoop house and install grow tables to make gardening more accessible for people with disabilities. She also plans to host composting demonstrations at the garden during 2025.

- Ottawa Conservation District

The Ottawa Conservation District, Allegan Conservation District, and ODC Network are partnering together again with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), MSU Extension, and Ottawa County to host the 2025 Cultivating Resilience Winter Conference! This event is a day of learning and networking for the agricultural community, allowing West Michigan farmers to discover proven strategies to boost soil health and protect your land for future generations. Hear from local Michigan farmers and regional experts who will share
practice insights on regenerative farming practices and how they can improve your land and your bottom line.

We're excited to announce this year's keynote speaker is Indiana Regenerative Farmer Rick Clark! Rick is a 5th generation farmer who cares deeply about soil and human health and has overhauled his entire operation to incorporate regenerative farming practices such as cover crops and no-till. This has allowed him to remove all inputs of fertilizer, herbicide, seed treatments and more. He is building a regenerative system that is profitable and viable for the next generation. Rick will discuss his regenerative agriculture journey through the years and will demonstrate the economic impacts of those systems.

This year's Cultivating Resilience Winter Conference will be held on Thursday, February 6th, 2025 from 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville. This event is FREE, including a free lunch and a chance to win some awesome door prizes! Additionally, we'll have a wide variety of agricultural businesses and conservation organization exhibitor booths for attendees to network with and learn about resources available in West Michigan between sessions. This event also offers 4 RUP Credits and a MAEAP Phase 1 Educational Credit for attending!

Registration is now open! Visit our website at ottawacd.org/cultivatingresilience to learn more about the event or check out the calendar below. Registration will close by January 29th at 5 PM. Walk-in registration is not guaranteed, so please register in advance to secure your spot!

Daniel Blair - Soil Conservationist, Gladstone

Last Position: Natural Resource Specialist, NRCS-Wisc.
Hometown: Wetmore
Education: Lake Superior State University & Oregon State University
Family: Wife – Emily
Hobbies & Interests: Hunt, Fish, Train my German Shorthair, Cut Firewood, Workout, Hang on a boat with a cold beverage

Samantha Johnston - Civil/Agricultural Engineer, Grand Rapids

Last Position: CTAI Engineer, Kent Conservation District
Hometown: Byron Center
Education: Bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering - Michigan Technological University
Family: Boyfriend Sean
Hobbies & Interests: Rec league soccer, shopping, gardening, camping, reading

Ibrahima Kane - District Conservationist, Grand Haven

Last Position: Soil Conservationist, Wilson, NC
Hometown: Phenix City, Ala.
Education: B.A Forestry, Concentration in Forest Science –Alabama A&M University
Hobbies & Interests: Spending time with friends, Watching and playing sports, Fishing, Traveling, and Making music

January 2025

15 - Regenerative Pasture Management, 11 a. m. to 2 p.m., Mitchell Cat Creek Farms - Hersey, for more information and to RSVP call 231/465-8005 or email brandi.mitchell@macd.org by Jan. 10

16 - Washtenaw CD Annual Celebration, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Cobblestone Farm - Ann Arbor, for more information go to washtenawcd.org/events

18 - MOFFA Organic Intensives, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., MSU Plant & Soil Science Bldg - East Lansing, for more information and to register go to moffa.net/organic-intensives  or email moffaorganic@gmail.com

28 - Bridging the Crystal River, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., virtual event via Zoom - link will be posted at leelanaucd.org

29 & 30 - Great Lakes Crop Summit, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort - Mt. Pleasant, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. & 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for more information and to register go to greatlakescropsummit.com

31 - The Deer Dilemma: Effective Strategies for Plant Protection, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Chippewa Township Community Bldg. - Rodney, for more information contact the Mecosta Conservation District at 231/796-0909 ext. 3