MDARD Awards Nearly $300,000 for Regenerative Agriculture Education and Outreach

Feb 25, 2026

By Lynsey Mukomel

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced today that it awarded $296,299 to Conservations Districts across the state to expand and enhance education and outreach events that promote regenerative agriculture practices and farmer-to-farmer networks.

“Regenerative agriculture enables farmers and landowners to remain profitable while restoring soil health and safeguarding our natural resources for future generations,” said MDARD Awards Nearly $300,000 for Regenerative Agriculture Education and Outreach “These grants will empower Conservation Districts to provide hands-on demonstrations and education that help farmers and landowners implement regenerative practices in ways that benefit their soil and their bottom line.”

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

Source : michigan.gov

Video: Grazing Network Group: What it is and how it benefits our operation

In the spring of 2023 OMAFA, along with the University of Guelph, gathered a group of 18 producers from the beef, sheep, and dairy sectors to support a three to four year research project related to measuring grass growth in Ontario. The producers use a Rising Plate Meter to capture grass growth and record livestock movements. This presentation will explain how the group interact/support one another, some initial findings, as well as the benefits for the research team and our farm.

The purpose of the Profitable Pastures conference is to bring fresh ideas and new research results to Ontario grazing managers across the ruminant livestock sectors. These conferences have a major focus on pasture management