Regenerative Agriculture Education and Outreach Grants

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) provides funding to Conservation Districts across the state to expand and enhance education and outreach events that promote regenerative agriculture practices and farmer-to-farmer networks.

MDARD's regenerative agriculture education and outreach grants help accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture across Michigan by:

• Showcasing successful regenerative management practices

• Increasing awareness of both the challenges and opportunities associated with regenerative agriculture

• Highlighting farmer-led innovation

• Supporting farm-to-farm networking

In February 2026 MDARD announced $296,299 in awards to 21 Conservation Districts: Alger (Delta) $14,953; Arenac $15,000; Berrien $15,000; Blue Water (Macomb, Sanilac, St. Clair counties) $15,000; Charlevoix $12,500; Eaton $13,000; Grand Traverse $15,000; Ionia $15,000; Isabella $15,000; Jackson $15,000; Kalamazoo $15,000; Kent $14,969; Lapeer $14,788; Mason-Lake $3,687; Oceana $15,000; Osceola-Lake $15,000; Ottawa $15,000; Saginaw $15,000; Tuscola $12,420; Van Buren $14,982; Washtenaw $15,000.

Note for farmers: this is not a direct-to-farmer grant. Farmers benefit as attendees of the funded events — MDARD lists upcoming regenerative agriculture education and outreach events on its agricultural events page.

Conservation Districts in Michigan. MDARD provides the funding to Conservation Districts across the state; the program page publishes no further applicant eligibility criteria.

No published award cap, match requirement, or grant period was found. Observed FY2026 awards ranged from $3,687 to $15,000 per Conservation District, with 15 of the 21 districts receiving exactly $15,000, suggesting an unpublished $15,000 per-district cap. Total FY2026 funding announced was $296,299.

MDARD's program page publishes no application process, application window, or portal for these grants — it describes only the purpose of the funding and links to MDARD's agricultural events page for the events the grants support. Conservation Districts interested in this funding should contact MDARD's Conservation and Stewardship Division.

The most recent award round was announced February 24, 2026 ($296,299 to 21 Conservation Districts). No open application period is currently published.

Related: MDARD's Conservation Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) grants, which also support the Regenerative Agriculture Program in partnership with local conservation districts, do publish a cycle and can be reached at MDARD-CTAP@michigan.gov.

MDARD press release announcing the FY2026 awards (February 24, 2026): https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/media/pressreleases/2026/02/24/mdard-awards-nearly-300k-for-regenerative-agriculture-education-and-outreach

MDARD Upcoming Agricultural Events (the events these grants fund): https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/environment/upcoming-events

MDARD Regenerative Agriculture Program: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/environment/regenerative-agriculture

MDARD Regenerative Agriculture Strategic Plan: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/environment/Regenerative-Ag/MDARD-Regenerative-Agriculture-Strategic-Plan.pdf

CTAP Technical Assistance District Map (each district's technician): https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/environment/Regenerative-Ag/CTAP-TechnicalAssistanceDistrictMap.pdf