Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Annual Reports

Fruit and Vegetable Controlled Atmosphere Storage Licensing Details, FAQ's, & Forms

Want to know how to contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development? On this page you will find phone numbers, email addresses, snail mail addresses, and online contact forms for everything we do here at MDARD. We even have a complaint form for those of you with complaints.

Laws and Regulations pertaining to and governing the actions and policies of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development.

This area contains information for press and media agencies. Press Releases, Pics, Podcasts & Videos

List of services offered on Michigan.gov by MDARD

All public meetings, that fall under the Open Meetings Act, scheduled by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development will be posted here. Questions about any of these meetings should be directed to contact person in the division listed on the notice.

Animal ID and movement requirements in the State of Michigan

Animal health resources for veterinary professionals.

Diseases affecting, or potentially affecting, animals in Michigan

Requirements to exhibit livestock in Michigan and more.

Rules governing the disposal of Bodies of Dead Animals (BODA).

Information about how MDARD's Agriculture Development Division can help you grow your business in Michigan.

Michigan's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) was created to help protect our environment and wildlife. Michigan is partnering with the federal government to implement conservation practices of great significance to the state, and valuable to the nation, in matters of soil erosion, water quality, and wildlife habitat.

Programs under the Private Forestlands Initiative, including the Forestry Assistance Program, Qualified Forester Registration, and Qualified Forest Program.

Good migrant labor housing is an essential element in securing an adequate supply of seasonal agricultural workers.

The Cottage Food law, enacted in 2010, allows individuals to manufacture and store certain types of foods in an unlicensed home kitchen.

Find a licensed firm in Michigan, from pesticide businesses to retail establishments, and more.

For the registration of horses, breeders and owners so as to render them eligible for racing and breeder/owner awards.

Retail Motor Fuel Outlet licensing information, applications and forms.

Information on Weights & Measures service person and agency registration, as well as weights and measures advisories.

Each new, existing, and proposed commercial pesticide or fertilizer bulk storage facility is required to register annually with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Information on how to acquire a feed license to manufacture or distribute commercial feed in Michigan.

Fertilizer License and Registration Requirements, as well as Liming License Requirements

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is charged with certifying sites where industrial hemp is to be grown under the authority of the federal Agriculture Act of 2014 and the state Industrial Hemp Research Act of 2014.

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LANSING—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced funding is available through the Tri-State Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for agricultural producers and landowners interested in implementing conservation practices in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB). Applications are due on December 2, 2022. Application information is available online at www.mi.nrcs.usda.gov.

This funding is part of an effort between the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), USDA-NRCS, and more than 30 partners in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio being led by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. The project will help participating farmers improve soil health, reduce phosphorus and sediment loading, and prevent harmful algal blooms in the WLEB. The program aims to work towards a 40 percent reduction of phosphorus by using a suite of conservation practices. 

"In Michigan, we are defined by our Great Lakes. We must all unite to protect these precious resources for future generations and our state's economy. This project is an example of the commitment from public, private, and non-profit organizations to address the nutrient loading issue in the Western Lake Erie Basin," said MDARD Director Gary McDowell." This is one of many opportunities available to farmers in the area to get technical and financial assistance to develop specific conservation plans and help with conservation practice adoption. These steps will help reduce nutrient loss and minimize future harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie."

The Michigan funding will prioritize practice implementation in the Lime Creek, Niles Ditch, Stony Creek, LaPointe Drain, Covell Drain, and Silver Creek sub-watersheds within the WLEB. However, all agricultural lands within Michigan’s portion of the WLEB are eligible to apply. Eligible practices include but are not limited to nutrient management, waste storage structures, drainage water management, and more.

Applications are taken on a year-round basis; however, interested Michigan producers and landowners should apply by December 2 for the current funding cycle. NRCS provides a higher level of financial assistance for beginning farmers and historically underserved producers. More information about RCPP and how to apply can be found at your local NRCS office or online at www.mi.nrcs.usda.gov.

Related Links: USDA Conservation Funds Available for Western Lake Erie Basin

About The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) works to assure food safety, protect animal and plant health, sustain environmental stewardship, provide consumer protection, enable rural development and foster efficient administration operations through service, partnership and collaboration.

Contact Us Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Constitution Hall, 6th Floor 525 W. Allegan Street P.O. Box 30017 Lansing, MI 48909 800-292-3939

At MDARD, we encourage and embrace innovation, creativity, and growth, so we can provide the best possible service to our food and agriculture businesses, communities, and colleagues. As a department, we are committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that builds upon our values and invests in our employees and provides an inclusive culture through involvement and empowerment.