Agricultural Preservation Fund Grants

The Agricultural Preservation Fund Grant is administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) in collaboration with the Michigan Agricultural Preservation Fund Board (APFB). This grant program is designed to support local farmland preservation by providing financial assistance to eligible local units of government through their qualified Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs. The overarching mission of the Agricultural Preservation Fund is to ensure long-term protection of Michigan's valuable agricultural land by enabling local governments to acquire development rights, thereby maintaining the land for agricultural use. The fund supports the acquisition of permanent agricultural conservation easements to preserve locally important farmland. To be eligible for funding, applicants must be a local unit of government—defined as counties, cities, townships, or villages—that have the authority to zone property and have been qualified as a local PDR program by MDARD no later than September 30 of the preceding fiscal year. Qualified programs are permitted to submit multiple applications for different properties, with a separate application required for each property. Furthermore, new programs—defined as those that have never been awarded a grant by the Fund Board—are eligible for up to $250,000 in reserved funding. Recently reinstated programs may also qualify under this designation, subject to board approval. The FY2026 grant cycle offers a total of $1.9 million in funding. Grant funds may only be used to purchase the development rights for farmland, based on appraised values submitted with the application. Each application must include a before-and-after appraisal conducted within the last 24 months. A minimum match of 25% of the appraised development rights value is required, with verification provided through letters of commitment or grant award letters. Additional required materials include detailed maps, legal property descriptions, tax documentation, certification of surface mineral rights ownership or subordination agreements, and a signed option from the landowner(s) expressing willingness to enter into an agricultural conservation easement. Applications are due no later than 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday, March 13, 2026. They must be submitted via email to [email protected]. Once received, the applications will be reviewed for completeness and scored by a joint review committee using criteria established in the Agricultural Preservation Fund Board’s Policies and Procedures, last updated on December 3, 2025. Scored applications and recommended awards will be presented for final approval at a public board meeting later in the year. Applicants are encouraged to consult the board’s evaluation rubric and required documentation in advance to ensure alignment with scoring criteria. Contact information for program-related inquiries is provided by MDARD. The designated contact is Chip Kraus, Program Manager for Farmland and Open Space Preservation, who may be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 517-243-7949. Official program information, including the grant application form, policies and procedures, and the list of qualified PDR programs, is available at Michigan.gov/Farmland. Future opportunities and qualification details for new applicants are also outlined on the site. The program is offered annually, with application cycles and deadlines recurring each fiscal year.

Ensure appraisals are recent and complete. Missing documents may disqualify the application.