Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) is a statewide, non-profit organization connecting beginning and historically underserved farmers to each other and resource opportunities; ensuring social justice, environmental stewardship, and profitability. 

  "Wisteria woke me this morning,  And there was all June in the garden;  I felt them, early, warning l est I miss any part of the day.

S traight I walked to the trellis vine. Wisteria touched a lifted nostril: F eelings of beauty diffused, to entwine.  My spirit with June's own aura."

~ Ann McGough,  Summons
Farm Development Centers and Networks
   Tilian  FDC
Tilian FDC is hiring a Farm Manager. Apply Today!  
Women in Ag
We've been busy at the Women in 
Agriculture Farm Development Center. We planted lots of tomatoes, and so lots of trellising and pruning. We have harvested lettuce heads, radishes and leaf lettuce. The beets, peas, cucumbers, and squash are looking good and the weeds have been growing like crazy! Please contact Dana Voorheis at 810.247.8547 of you would like more information about volunteering or becoming an incubator farmer.  Stay tuned from upcoming workshops and events with WIA.  
Vets in Ag Network
Upcoming Events/Workshops

Farming for all: Programs, resources, and partners that can help your farm succeed
July 12th 9 am-2 pm at the  Muskegon Farmers Market (Muskegon, MI) 

Small Farm Pest Management: Informed decisions and sustainable approaches
August 13th 8 am- 4 pm at Tilian Farm Development Center (Ann Arbor, MI). Registration to come. 
Veterans Product Guide
MIFFS is creating Michigan's first Veteran Product Guide for those interested in supporting veteran owned farms. We will be collecting farm profiles until September 2018, allowing for the guide to be printed in early 2019.  Are you a veteran?  Register your farm now  to be listed in the first edition and thank you for your service.
Did you miss the Vets in Ag Webinar hosted on June 3rd? Click on the button to the right to watch the recording and learn how to register for your farm with FSA. 
Over the last several months many of you have asked us how to support the Farm Development Centers and Networks. We are touched by your generosity and appreciate your community engagement.
In the News!
2018 Farm Bill Update: As a member of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), we're working together and closely following NSAC's updates on food and farm policy. It is a crucial time to stay engaged to ensure that critical funding is available for beginning and underserved farmers. Here's some good news about 2017 funding for sustainable agriculture programs. 

Community Resources
All you farmers out there, please fill out the 2017 Ag Census.  We need all voices to be heard. We need you.  Thank you in advance for your participation and support in enriching the entire food system here in MI. Register online to complete the form. 

Please note that new farmers or existing farmers who have not participated in a prior Census of Agriculture still have time to sign up to be counted through the end of June at https://www.agcounts.usda.gov/cgi-bin/counts/.  The survey takes less than a minute – and will ensure that you receive a Census form (that you can fill out in paper form or online.)  If a farmer/rancher is not on our list by June 30th, 2017, the producer will not have an opportunity to participate in the 2017 Census of Agriculture.
Let's Farm Michigan
Lets's Farm MI was created to foster a cooperative atmosphere for organizations planning events and to allow farmers greater access to the wide variety of events available to them across the state. All events listed on this site must be organized for farmers and located in MI.  Contact  [email protected]  for more information and to be added to the calendar.
MI Land Chat is a  MI based online forum to connect with those who have land to lease or sell with those who need land to farm. It's that simple. Post what you have or what you need and be as descriptive as possible. Check out some guidelines for posting.
MI Based Beginning Farmer Training Programs
This webinar/resource features twenty Michigan-based beginning farmer initiatives.  can be heard discussing their projects and a Michigan map of the webinar participant initiatives can be found at the link below. CRFS notes that the goal of the  webinar is to "increase awareness of beginning farmer initiatives in Michigan, as well as to encourage collaboration and sharing of resources among those involved".  Click below for more information and to access the webinar.  Michigan Beginning Farmer Initiatives WebinarThis webinar was sponsored by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, the MSU Student Organic Farm, the MSU North Farm and MSU Tollgate Farm, and Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS).
Join us in supporting the many faces of farming
Membership options include... Joint Membership between MIFFS and National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC). Learn more information page   

Whether giving to a specific program, project or giving to our general fund, we greatly appreciate your donation. In fact, we thrive from it. Thank you! Donation options include Michigan Family Farms Conference, Women in Ag, Vets in Ag, or Tilian Farm Development Center. THANK YOU! 

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
  480 Wilson Road, Room 172, East Lansing, MI 48824
Ph: 517.432.0712 | Fx: 517.353.7961 | [email protected]