MDARD Partners with MIFMA to Launch Farmers to Markets Program

Mar 05, 2026

By Lynsey Mukomel

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) announced a new Farmers to Markets program to help boost farmers’ sales at local markets and increase community access to Michigan-grown foods.

“The Farmers to Markets program will strengthen regional food systems by supporting reliable season-long sales for Michigan farmers market vendors, reducing risks associated with new market entry while promoting sales of local agriculture products,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “By building vendor capacity at participating markets, we can give Michigan families more access to nutritious, locally grown foods throughout the market season. This program will be a win-win for Michigan’s hardworking growers and vendors and Michiganders who prioritize knowing where their food comes from.”

Through Farmers to Markets, MDARD will invest up to $492,000 to increase the number of farmer vendors at community-driven marketplaces throughout Michigan. MDARD and MIFMA will use these funds to provide direct support to vendors experiencing barriers to market entry or participation.

Source : michigan.gov

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The United States has more than 895 million acres of farmland, which includes all rural land tied to farming operations, from highly fertile Midwest cornfields to vast grazing ranges in the West, as well as the undeveloped rural land, which is often sold as ranches, homesteads, or uncultivated lots. Nowadays investing in rural land is very lucrative even billionaires like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffett have bought up thousands of acres of farmland across America. In contrast to investors, agricultural companies, and business moguls, some buy farmland for their own requisites, like starting a small farmstead, creating a cottage, and becoming self-resilient. In this video we have ranked the top cheapest states to buy farmland according to the per-acre land value, which is accumulated from the United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA’s per-acre land values come from an annual survey, which is cross-checked with actual sales data, appraisals, and market trends to ensure accuracy. So here are The top Cheapest States to Buy Farmland.