Resources

Looking for information about loans? Education? Taxes? Succession Planning? You bet. We can connect you with experts! And be sure to further explore the websites and resources you will find linked here - many of these entries link to one particular tool of interest, but at the same site, you could also find much more information that could be useful to your operation.

*Disclaimer: among the resources below, you will find some for profit companies listed. MiFarmLink does not necessarily recommend these companies or their services, and receives no money for listing them here. They are listed for infomational purposes only and due diligence should be performed before engaging services.

FSMA Produce Safety Tool

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

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 Right to Farm Act

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

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).

Michigan Farm Bureau

Farm Business Resources page

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

Michigan Good Food Fund

Loan Preparation for Beginning Farmers - webinar series

If you are new to the world of lending, these webinars will be helpful in navigating loan preparation for the variety of different agencies and products that are available to beginning farmers.

Northern Initiatives

Business loans

Northern Initiatives is a non-profit CDFI that provides loans to small business owners and entrepreneurs in Michigan that might not qualify for loans from traditional banks for a variety of reasons. They offer emerging business loans and assistance with the Michigan Good Food Fund. They have helped many farms and food based businesses. Some of their products are region specific.

Taste the Local Difference

Marketing tools

TLD serves the state of Michigan with online local food and farm guides. Each May, the annual edition of the Local Food Guide in print and digital form is released. Throughout the rest of the year additional digital guides are released, and monthly regional newsletters provide recipes, stories and content about the Michigan local food scene near you.

New Farmers - USDA

United States Department of Agriculture

The USDA has a wide variety of resources available to help new farmers access capital, learn the ropes, and get connected to the farming community.

Farm Business Plan Accelerator

MSU Student Organic Farm

The Farm Business Plan Accelerator is a 100% online opportunity to meet weekly with other beginning and aspiring farmers to write a farm business plan that fits your farmsite, markets, skills and goals.

Business Coaching & Succession Planning

Jessen Coaching

Carl Jessen led financial institutions in Nebraska and Michigan for 30 years, and uses that well of experience to help farmers create succession plans. Carl also facilitates the GreenStone Farm Credit Services Farm Forward Mentor Program.

Labor Services

AgHelp, Inc

AgHelp connects workers with jobs, and employers with skilled, reliable labor. Workers can also find many of the support resource they need for themselves and their families.