By Andi Anderson
A southeast Michigan farmland preservation effort has suffered a major setback after the U.S. Department of Agriculture rescinded nearly $25 million in conservation funding.
The Ann Arbor-based Legacy Land Conservancy was informed that its $24.6 million Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant had been reclassified and erased under recent legislative changes.
Legacy officials said the funding was originally tied to the 2024 Farm Bill but was shifted to Inflation Reduction Act sources. Much of that funding was eliminated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, leading to the grant’s cancellation.
The conservancy is now appealing USDA’s decision, arguing the grant was approved and appropriated by Congress.
The RCPP grant was expected to finance conservation easements on about 4,000 acres in Washtenaw, Jackson, Livingston, and Lenawee counties. Easements allow farmers to retain land ownership while receiving payments for permanently protecting agricultural land, forests, and wetlands.
Typically, federal funding covers half the cost, with the remainder provided by local and private sources.
Legacy staff said losing this support places farmland at risk, particularly in fast-developing areas of southeast Michigan. Rising land values and operating costs may push farmers to sell land for development, reducing food production acreage and threatening critical habitats and waterways.
“This can be a lifeline for a lot of people,” said Krista Gjestland, Legacy’s development and communications director. “It can mean their retirement, because for most farms there’s no 401(k) attached. It can help send kids to school.”
Without these easements, small and mid-sized farmers could face increasing financial strain, while communities lose farmland and natural areas essential to food security and biodiversity.
The conservancy continues to work with its partners and explore options to secure new funding, but the setback marks a significant challenge for regional land preservation efforts.
Photo Credit: pexels-karolina-grabowska
Categories: Michigan, Government & Policy