Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development - MDARD

05/28/2026

Did you know Michigan's nursery and ornamental horticulture industry has an economic impact of more than a billion dollars each year? MDARD is helping fund innovative research to help Michigan horticulture stay at the cutting edge!​

Click through the pics and read how three researchers at Michigan State University are focusing on real-world solutions that strengthen and sustain our green industry.

05/27/2026

It only takes 48 hours for the empty fields to begin their miraculous transformation.​

Spring planting is officially underway across Michigan! Our farmers are working around the clock, turning winter's blank canvas into the fields that will soon feed our communities and power our economy.​

From the first seed in the ground to the harvest on our tables, it all starts with the hard working dedication of a farmer.

05/26/2026

Did you see? Powered by grants from MDARD's Good Food for Michigan Project, Bendle Public Schools and the Chippewa Luce Community Action Agency are expanding their capacity to deliver healthy local foods to students and seniors. That means more nutritious, Michigan-grown food for families and more opportunities for Michigan farmers to sell in their communities.

The Good Food for Michigan Project has announced its first grants to expand institutional local food access through regional food hubs. Brian Schorr with Flint Fresh tells Brownfield their food hub has been supplying some area schools with fresh produce since COVID. “That started out with a few th...

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to honor the brave servicemembers who gave their lives to protect our country.​

Their sacrifice protects the freedoms we enjoy, including the ability to grow, cultivate, and nourish our communities here in Michigan.​

As we spend time with family and friends this Memorial Day, MDARD joins all Michiganders in remembering and honoring our fallen heroes.​

Thank you to all who have served and to the families who continue to carry their legacy.

05/24/2026

FACT! Michigan is ranked first in the country in asparagus production... and it’s something we’re proud to celebrate every spring.​

Each year, Michigan farmers harvest 26 million pounds of fresh, flavorful asparagus, supplying markets far beyond our state lines. And this success isn’t by chance. Along the Lake Michigan shoreline, generations of growers have benefited from the region’s unique natural advantages: moderate temperatures, cooling breezes, and sandy, well‑drained soils that create the perfect environment for growing high‑quality asparagus.​

In the fields, each spear is carefully harvested by hand. Michigan’s asparagus farmers pour skill and dedication into producing a crop that’s both delicious and nutritious.​

Here’s to Michigan agriculture, our hardworking farm families, and the incredible growing conditions that help keep us at the top of the spear! 🌱

05/23/2026

“Whether or not you grew up in the field, there's a place for women to lead in agriculture. Be bold, stand proud and go after your goals!” says Elaine Palm.​

Elaine began working in agriculture at a young age on her family’s sheep farm. Through 4-H and FFA, she expanded the sheep business by participating in university-led forage trials and parasite data collection. Elaine later earned a degree in agriculture and natural resources communications from Michigan State University and spent nearly a decade in nonprofit management, leadership development, and community education. In 2022, she returned to fulltime farming with her family, focusing on breeding stock for other producers, wool production, and direct-to-consumer lamb sales with their farm Great Lakes Lamb.​

“Michigan’s food and agriculture industry has a stunning amount of agricultural diversity because of our environmental microclimates. Getting to know Michigan farmers is easy to do because we live and work in the same communities and share values with the general public.” ​

2026 is the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Stay tuned for more MDARD spotlights on women leaders in Michigan agriculture!

05/22/2026

Memorial Day weekend means sunshine, BBQs, and outdoor fun – but don’t forget about your animals! ​

MDARD is reminding pet owners to practice a few simple procedures to keep their animals healthy and happy all summer long:​

- Provide cool, fresh water ​
- Watch for heat stress​
- Avoid food scraps ​
- Update pet IDs & microchips

05/21/2026

What happens to our food supply when disaster strikes?​

That’s the question Michigan’s Food Protection Task Force asked this week. Composed of experts from across the public and private sectors, this collaborative initiative works to strengthen food safety, emergency preparedness, and rapid response across the state’s food system.​

At its annual meeting in East Lansing yesterday, the Task Force conducted a tabletop exercise focused on maintaining food safety and business continuity during a severe weather disaster. ​

“Exercises like this are essential to maintaining readiness and sustaining the partnerships necessary to respond to large-scale emergencies that threaten food safety,” said Jennifer Bonsky, director of MDARD’s Human Food Division. “A big thanks to all of our partners who show up every day to protect Michigan’s food supply.”

05/21/2026

The Sweet Success of Beekeeping 🐝​

When Genji Leclair moved to Michigan a little over a decade ago, she wanted a beehive but she didn’t expect to inherit a honey business. A jar of Hasselman’s Honey in a Fremont grocery store said “Call Larry.” So she did, and owner Larry Hasselman became her mentor.​

“Larry was very generous with all of the beekeepers up here… he had mentored hundreds of new beekeepers, so a very great guy,” Leclair says.​

Today, Leclair carries forward Hasselman’s 50+ year legacy as Great Lakes Bee Company, growing from her barn to a larger commercial space and placing Queen’s Honey in Meijer and Whole Foods. She’s kept the careful practices that define the brand, from minimizing pesticide exposure to mindful bee handling.​

Leclair encourages anyone interested in bees to check into their own backyard hive or consider integrating pollinator-friendly plants for visiting bees. But above all avoid pesticides so bees can thrive.

Farm Flavor Media

05/19/2026

Campfires are a staple of summer traditions, but firewood can carry hidden risks. Invasive insects and diseases may be lurking in untreated wood, moving from place to place before emerging and causing damage to local ecosystems. ​

Here's three campfire tips to keep our forests safe.​

#1 - Buy certified, heat-treated firewood, which is safe to transport long distances because it has been treated to eliminate invasive pests.​

#2 - Collect or purchase firewood at your destination. Firewood should never be moved more than 10 miles from where it was originally cut, unless it has been heat-treated. ​

#3 - Leave unused firewood behind. Do not take it home or to another campsite.​

In addition to protecting Michigan’s natural resources from invasive pests, campers should also be mindful of general fire safety to reduce the risk of wildfires, especially during dry summer months and near heavily wooded areas.