Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Gary McDowell, along with the Michigan Agricultural Preservation Fund Board, have awarded $1.8 million in agricultural preservation fund grants to seven local farmland preservation programs to close on permanent agricultural conservation easements.

The state’s Farmland Preservation Local Grants Program provides funding to local farmland preservation programs that are qualified to close on the easements. Twenty-four local programs were eligible to submit grants for funding. Farmland preservation is designed to help ensure communities have locally sourced fresh food and agricultural jobs.

“Ensuring the long-term sustainability of Michigan’s nearly 10 million acres of farmland is the foundation for preserving our food production and supply,” McDowell says. “These grants assist local preservation programs in purchasing development rights to preserve important farmland in their communities thereby protecting farmland for future generations.”

The following local farmland preservation programs received grants preserving 730 acres:

The fund will distribute $1.8 million in grants covering up to 75% of the costs for buying the development rights on agricultural land. It also helps pay for some of the closing costs associated with the conservation easements.

The Agricultural Preservation Fund Board consists of seven members, including the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development director (or his/her designee) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources director (or his/her designee). It was established through legislation in 2000 to award grants to local agricultural conservation easement programs.

To qualify, a county or township must have zoning authority, covered under a master plan that includes farmland preservation, passed a Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance, and created a plan for monitoring conservation easements. Local programs are selected based on the scoring system adopted by the board that focuses on quality agricultural parcels and program achievements. 

To learn more about the board and fund visit michigan.gov/farmland.

Source: MDARD, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.