Michigan Farmers Receive Grant to Boost Conservation Practices

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has announced grants worth over $13.6 million to support voluntary conservation practices in agriculture across 19 states, including Michigan. This funding will be matched with $1.6 million in contributions, resulting in a total conservation impact of $15.2 million.

In Michigan, a team consisting of the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, the Michigan Soybean Committee, the Michigan Pork Producers Association, the Michigan Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) will work together to promote the adoption of cover crops. Through training programs, financial incentives, technical assistance, and educational opportunities, they aim to increase the use of cover crops on corn and soybean acres.

MAEAP will provide primary farm enrollment and technical assistance, while The Nature Conservancy in Michigan will support communication and outreach efforts.

Kristin Poley, the project lead for the grant, is excited about bringing the Farmers for Soil Health initiative to Michigan. The grant will provide technical assistance to farmers across 55,000 acres for cover crop adoption, benefiting corn, soybean, and pork farms. By expanding the MAEAP team and offering outreach and education, farmers will have the necessary tools for successful implementation.

The grants are made possible by a portion of the $95 million awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities to the Farmers for Soil Health collaboration, which includes the National Corn Growers Association, United Soybean Board, National Pork Producers, and NFWF.

The 12 grant recipients are state corn and soy commodity organizations or their designated partners. This farmer-led approach aims to enhance soil health practices, achieve sustainability goals, and improve profitability.

This is the first grant announcement by NFWF as part of the Farmers for Soil Health partnership. Additional technical assistance grants are expected to be awarded in 2023.

The NFWF is a congressionally chartered organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats. Farmers for Soil Health is a collaborative initiative promoting farmer-led cover crop programs to improve soil health, sustainability, and profitability.