Washtenaw Farmers Can Apply for New Conservation Funding

Washtenaw County farmers may be able to use a new southeast Michigan program to help pay for farm improvements ranging from cover crops and wildlife habitat to farm stand supplies, websites and branding.

Enrollment is now open for the Michigan Conservation Stewardship for Farmers Project, a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded initiative offering $3 million in producer incentives through September 2028.

The program serves farms in Washtenaw, Wayne, Monroe, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties. Farms of all sizes and types are eligible to apply.

Alex Cacciari, farmer programs specialist with the Washtenaw County Conservation District, said the program is expected to support at least 100 producers across the five-county region. The average award is expected to be about $25,000 per farm over two years, depending on eligibility and how applications are scored by the program’s Cost Share Committee.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with no current deadline. Funding will remain available until it is obligated to producers, but no later than September 2028.

Cacciari said eligible conservation practices include cover cropping, reduced tillage or no-till practices, conservation cover, riparian buffers, wildlife habitat planting and soil carbon amendments.

The program also includes marketing support, such as direct marketing supplies for farmers markets and farm stands, website development, branding, logos and social media support.

Cacciari described the project as a “farmer first” initiative.

“WCCD is excited to spearhead this unique funding opportunity where our staff and technical assistance providers really get to listen to the needs of the farmers we serve,” Cacciari said. “Farmers know their land and their business needs best, and we are here to support that within the parameters of this grant agreement.”

Eligible farm owners will work with Conservation District staff to identify one or more conservation or marketing support practices for their operation.

The project is a partnership between the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, Washtenaw County Conservation District, Keep Growing Detroit, Monroe County Conservation District and Lenawee County Conservation District. Application and enrollment information is available at www.macd.org/mcsfp