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"When the April wind wakes the call for the soil, I hold the plough as my only hold upon the earth, and, as I follow through the fresh and fragrant furrow, I am planted with every foot-step, growing, budding, blooming into a spirit of spring."- Dallas Lore Sharp
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We hope the Spring season is off to a great start for you. At MIFFS, we are actively working to share all we can about food and farming systems here in beautiful Michigan. We recently changed the way we are communicating with our members and contacts. In our monthly newsletters you will find MIFFS News, Educational Opportunities, Granting Resources and more.
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MIFFS is thrilled to announce and introduce you to the newest member of our team;
Assistant Director Jen Silveri. Jen has served on MIFFS board for the last 3 years providing her incredible expertise and perspective to undeserved farmers of Michigan. Jen brings a multitude of skills as Assistant Director, including conservation, USDA Rural development, and
Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). MIFFS is excited to have Jen Silveri serving in this capacity.
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Stay up to date on all Educational Opportunities by clicking below.
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Educational Opportunities
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Month of April
What: Building Healthy Soil on the Farm- Hosted by MIFFS Women in Ag Network (WIA)
When: April 17th, 1 PM- 5 PM
Where: The Women’s Farm Development Center, Genesys Regional Medical Center at 3181 Pollock Rd., Grand Blanc.
Registration Now Open
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MSU Land Policy Institute- Check out their list of grants.
USDA-AMS: Offers Webinars for Local Food Systems Grant Applicants, $26 Million Now Available in Grant Funding. Applications for FMPP and LFPP are due on
May 12,
2016.
USDA-FSA- Applications for the National Black Farmers Association Scholarship Program are now being accepted.
Submissions due by
May 2, 2016
, or when 100 applications have been received, whichever comes first.
NRCS- Get the Conservation Plan for your land. Then the NRCS can help match their programs and cost-shared practices to specific conservation needs and your goals.
Note there is no deadline for getting a plan
but you want one first before more conservation program deadlines go by.
Applications
submission deadline is June 1, 2016.
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Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
provides free Grant Advising services with a focus on beginning farmers, limited resource farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers and/or military veterans, as well as young organizations working with these farmers.
For more information and to be on the e-list, please contact MFAI’s
Grants Advisor, Deirdre Birmingham,
[email protected] or (608) 219-4279.
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BFRDP Matching
Funds Program
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Through a USDA
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Grant the MSU
Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS), Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) and MSU
Student Organic Farm will provide a limited number of $2,000 stipends to beginning farmers in Michigan. Each $2,000 stipend requires applicant matching savings of at least $1,000 intended for farm-related costs. The stipends are designed to help people in their first years of farming to develop and stabilize their farming business, increasing its long-term viability.
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Your contribution, in any capacity, is
welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for playing a critical role in making Michigan farming an attractive and viable livelihood.
Sincerely,
MIFFS
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480 Wilson Road, Room 172, East Lansing, MI 48824
Ph: 517.432.0712 | Fx: 517.353.7961 |
[email protected]
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