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Michigan invests in regenerative farmer networks to boost soil health and conservation

Twelve farmer networks are receiving state funding to help advance the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices across Michigan.

Will Jacquinde manages the Regenerative Farmer Network Grant Program within the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“Every farm is going to be different in the way that they approach these different practices,” he says. “That’s the strength of these networks is they’re going to go out and learn for themselves and their own operations what makes sense from other farmers doing it already.”

He tells Brownfield $500,000 in funding will be used for education and outreach, with many groups hosting summer events in collaboration with local conservation districts.

“I think we can touch so many more farms and farmers and acres by having farmers educate farmers, that’s the first piece,” he explains.

“The second piece is, if you’re a farmer and you’re like, this sounds really interesting— you can attend these field days and these educational events, and you can also join a network.”

The program is modeled after the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture’s Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program.

Each group is partnering with a nonprofit, often the local conservation district, and has a common geographic region or commodity-specific focus. Examples include canola, food systems, livestock, pears, row crops, small grains, tree fruit, and wine grapes.

Network Name, Collaborator

• Ionia Resilient Farmer Network, Ionia Conservation District
• Michigan RegenVine Network, Intentional Agriculture
• Washtenaw County Agroecology Network, Washtenaw County Conservation District
• Regenerative Ecology & Livestock Integration Collective, Eaton Conservation District
• West Michigan Small Scale Regenerative Farmer Network, Allegan Conservation District
• Regenerative Tree Fruit Network, Ottawa County Conservation District
• Southern Michigan Small Grains Pilot Network, Jackson County Conservation District
• North Eastern Michigan Regenerative Ag Network, Alpena-Montmorency Conservation District
• Regenerative Pear Growers Network, Oceana Conservation District
• Grown in Detroit: Regenerative Network, Keep Growing Detroit
• From The Ground League of Growers, From The Ground Farmers Market Collective
• Michigan Forever Green Field Crops, MSU Extension