Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development - MDARD

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MDARD improves quality of life by protecting Michiganders from the pump to the plate, supporting farmers and producers who put food on the table, and creating economic opportunities within the agriculture industry. Vision - To be recognized as a national leader among state departments of agriculture through our expertise, effectiveness, application of sound science and delivery of quality service to our stakeholders. Mission - Assure the food safety, agricultural, environmental, and economic interests of the people of the State of Michigan are met through service, partnership and collaboration.

30/10/2026

DID YOU KNOW??

Pumpkins and Squash are in the same family.

Michigan proudly produces over 78 million pounds of pumpkins and 150 million pounds of squash every single year!

Both of these FRUITS (yes, that's not a typo) generate over $54 million for Michigan's economy combined.

29/10/2026

Serving more fresh foods to Michigan students!

MDARD’s Farm to Family Program just launched a new Scratch Cooking Pilot to help Michigan schools serve more meals made from locally sourced foods.

The pilot will offer grants of up to $100,000 to help schools invest in equipment, infrastructure, supplies and staffing necessary to incorporate more fresh or minimally processed Michigan foods into school menus.

“We know that incorporating fresh, nutritious foods into school meals improves students’ health and academic success,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring.

Interested schools should submit a letter of intent to MDARD by Nov. 24, 2026.

Find out more in the comment below: ⬇️

📷: Sarah Rypma

28/10/2026

Healthier soil and saving money!

Earlier this year, MDARD invested in the NextGen Crop Insurance pilot, which gives farmers more choice and flexibility in their insurance coverage when they adopt regenerative practices.

"The current crop insurance system is based on a 10-year look-back that doesn’t recognize steps farmers are taking to improve soil health,” said Tina Owens, who heads the Resilience in Agriculture Lending and Insurance Coalition (RALIC) that is leading the NextGen pilot. “NextGen Crop Insurance is an important real-world test of whether crop insurance pricing can better reflect changes in soil health, and could help inform how insurers, lenders and investors assess and price agricultural risk in the future."

Find out more about the future of farm insurance: https://go.mi.gov/r2mm03722

27/10/2026

The sands are stirring around the ancient purr-amid...

But you don't have to unravel any secrets to protect your pets from Halloween frights!

- Keep candy and decorations out of reach
- Choose costumes that don’t restrict movement, breathing, or vision
- Don’t leave costumed pets unsupervised
- Create a quiet space away from doors that open for trick-or-treaters
- Double‑check ID tags and microchip registry information

A little preparation keeps the scares under wraps – and away from your pets.

24/10/2026

Looking for a way to squash boredom this weekend?

Head to your local pumpkin patch to help celebrate Michigan Agritourism Month!

Agritourism destinations like The Wild Pumpkin in Beaverton offer the opportunity to connect directly with the foods we eat and the farmers who grow them. For owners Dean and Katie Schunk, agriculture is a lifelong calling; Dean drew up his first business plan for a pumpkin farm at age 7!

Learn more about The Wild Pumpkin: https://bit.ly/4zoNq1t

Michigan Farm Fun

23/10/2026

Strategic investment, BIG results!

Last year, MDARD's Farm to Family Program awarded $730,000 worth of grants to 15 food hubs and farm stops across the state. The impact?

🍎Nearly $3.4 million in local food sales

🍽️Half a million pounds of Michigan-grown food reaching more Michiganders

🚜More than $2.5 million returning directly to Michigan farmers

Hear from some of our grant recipients:

22/10/2026

“[We’re] adopting a crop insurance model that incorporates soil health in a real way.”

MDARD Director Tim Boring and Tina Owens of the TIFS initiative recently joined Brownfield Ag's Next Gen Podcast to discuss the NextGen Crop Insurance Pilot.

This groundbreaking crop insurance model is designed to give farmers credit for adopting practices that improve soil health and reduce crop loss. It gives farmers more choice and flexibility in managing risk with the goal of making farms more resilient and profitable over the long term.

Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast platform or watch it here: https://bit.ly/4siUYjN

Brownfield Ag News

21/10/2026

Big news for Michigan farmers!

MDARD is partnering with Michigan State University Extension on a new five‑year effort to boost PFAS monitoring and give producers stronger tools to protect their land, livestock, and long‑term productivity.

This $3.5M partnership will:
- Expand PFAS education
- Offer no‑cost soil and water testing for eligible farms
- As needed, support customized mitigation plans

This proactive partnership will help address PFAS and how these "forever chemicals" impact farmland, keeping Michigan agriculture strong and resilient.

Learn more: https://go.mi.gov/w9q373662

20/10/2026

Want to help spread Michigan's agricultural traditions?

Apple butter is a fruit spread made by slow-cooking apples and adding spices and sugar. Before refrigeration was a thing, Michiganders made apple butter to preserve leftover fruit from the fall harvest.

Our friends at Fenner Nature Center will teach YOU how to make apple butter at the 52nd annual Apple Butter Festival in Lansing on October 24 and 25 from 11 am – 5 pm. All apples grown locally by Michigan State University.

You can't make apple butter without apples. Find your local orchard: https://bit.ly/4Bhw20h

Michigan Apples
Michigan State University Extension

19/10/2026

Have you thanked a vet tech recently?

October 18-24 is National Veterinary Technician Week! MDARD is extremely proud of the vet techs on our staff – and across the state of Michigan – who play an integral role in protecting pets, livestock, and public health.

Veterinary technicians provide specialized nursing care to animals, administer medications, assist in surgical procedures, educate animal owners, and perform other critical functions. They help keep family pets healthy and protect livestock from diseases that can harm Michigan's $125.8 billion food and agriculture industry.

Learn what MDARD and our partners are doing to support veterinary science education in Michigan: https://go.mi.gov/jqckp3638

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Michigan Veterinary Medical Association
MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Center
Michigan FFA Foundation

Address

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
Thursday	08:00 - 17:00
Friday	08:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+18002923939

Website

http://www.michigan.gov/mdard

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