Honey production guide for Michigan beekeepers

Michigan State University Extension

A guide from MSU Extension and the Center for Regional Food Systems outlines best practices for processing and selling liquid honey for beekeepers who make $15,000 or less in annual honey sales

Beginning Farmer DEMaND Series

Michigan State University Extension

The Beginning Farmer DEMaND series offers a fresh look at farm business management for new and beginning farmers.  The series is designed to help the next generation of farm operators learn about financial and business management strategies that can help them develop into managers and decision-makers on the farm.  Whether you represent the transition of generations, an employee to owner, or a new entrant to the business, the DEMaND series can offer assistance through articles, bulletins, webinars, and more!

DEMaND series sign-up:
Bulletins are published periodically during the year.  If you’re interested in having the latest DEMaND series bulletins sent directly to your email, sign up today to be on our mailing list.

Washtenaw County Conservation Planning Farmer Programs

Washtenaw County Conservation District

The WCCD provides a variety of services for farmers in the county that range from help with MAEAP verification, navigation of NRCS programs, county cost-share opportunities and invasive species managment. They are also the current institutional home of MIFarmLink! 

Ottawa County Farmer Programs

Ottawa Conservation District

Agriculture in Ottawa County is diverse and bountiful, with over 1200 farms including dairy farms, greenhouses, blueberries, and so much more. Ottawa County farmers seek to conserve and protect the land they farm and the water that surrounds us by using practices such as cover crops, grass waterways, and assistance transitioning to no-till.

The Ottawa Conservation District offers several services and resources for farmers, such as financial assistance for conservation practices and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program. 

Black Farmers Fund

Washtenaw County Black Farmers Fund

The Washtenaw County Black Farmers Fund (WCBFF) is transforming our community through food sovereignty and land justice by investing in Black Farmers who have long been denied access to land and resources. They are a coalition of nonprofits, farmers, and community members working to build a more equitable and just food system. Funding is available for aspiring Black Farmers living or farming in Washtenaw, Jackson, Ingham, Livingston, Oakland, Wayne, Monroe, and Lenawee counties of Michigan who produce nutritious food and supply the Washtenaw County foodshed. 

Native American Agriculture Fund

NAAF Charitable Trust

The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) is a private, charitable trust serving Native farmers and ranchers created from the historic Keepseagle v. Vilsack litigation settlement. The Trust’s Mission shall be to make grants to Eligible Grant Recipients, described in section 8, to fund the provision of business assistance, agricultural education, technical support, and advocacy services to Native American farmers and ranchers to support and promote their continued engagement in agriculture.

Native American Tribal Loans

USDA Farm Service Agency

FSA's Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Loan Program is a valuable resource to help Tribes become owners of additional property within the reservation to advance and increase current operations, provide financial prospects for Native American Communities, increase agricultural productivity, and save farmland for future generations. Through FSA’s innovative programming, American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments have the ability to create sustainable and community-driven solutions to rural community challenges. This loan program is financed and serviced by the Farm Service Agency. Funding comes from Congressional appropriations as part of the USDA budget.

Intertribal Agriculture Council

Intertribal Agriculture Council

The mission of IAC is to pursue and promote the conversation, developments and use of our agricultural resources for the betterment of American Indian people. They conduct a wide range of programs designed to further the goal of improving Indian Agriculture. The IAC promotes the Indian use of Indian resources and contracts with federal agencies to maximize resources for tribal members.

Minority & Women Farmers & Ranchers Programs

USDA Farm Service Agency

By statute, FSA targets a portion of all Guaranteed loan funds, Direct Operating and Direct Farm Ownership loan funds, Microloan funding, and Youth loans, to historically underserved farmers and ranchers.

Value-Added Producer Grants

USDA Rural Development

What does this program do?
The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income.

You may receive priority if you are:

• Beginning farmer or rancher.
• Socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher.
• Small or medium-sized farm.
• Ranch structured as a family farm.
• Farmer or rancher cooperative.
• Proposing a mid-tier value chain.

Grants are awarded through a national competition. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a notice published in the Federal Register and through an announcement posted on Grants.gov.

VAPG is part of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) which is an umbrella program created under the 2018 Farm Bill.  Producers can find other grant funding opportunities at the LAMP web page.

Program Funding: Approximately $31 million in total available funding.

Maximum Grant Amount: Planning Grants $75,000; Working Capital Grants: $250,000.