About Michigan Climate Smart Farms

Project overview

The Michigan Climate Smart Farm Project (MCSFP) is coordinated by Washtenaw County Conservation District with funding from the USDA's Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities grant program.

The goal is to develop a climate smart farm verification (CSFV) program for the state, based on the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). This initial 5 year (2023-2028) effort is intended to assist small-scale, multi-crop farms specializing in direct-to-consumer fruit and vegetable production in Washtenaw, Monroe, Wayne, and Lenawee Counties with implementing climate smart practices. This pilot project in southeastern Michigan will inform the development of a statewide program in future years that supports all types of farm production systems.

Farmers interested in participating in the CSFV pilot will be eligible for cost-share payments for climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices implemented with the goal of attaining CSFV. Verified farms will be able to utilize the newly developed CSF branding package and logo in order to market their commodities as Climate Smart Farm Verified.

A final report on the CSFV system and findings will be presented to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) with the goal of becoming part of the MAEAP program or a stand-alone program. 

Project timeline

  • ​• Hire MCSFP Specialist

    • Establish advisory committees (Discovery, Marketing, Cost-Share)

    • Identify 12 farming systems for evaluation

    • Collect baseline data and create standards for greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration potential for each system

    • Develop standards for Climate Smart Farm verification (CSFV)

    • Develop brand and marketing for Climate Smart Farm products

  • • Recruit farmers into 3 year pilot CSFV program, review applications for cost share

    • Hire and train 2 CSF conservation technicians

    • Execute program developed in Phase 1 and refine continuously

  • • Compile results from Phase 1 & 2

    • Deliver findings and recommendations to MDARD and MAEAP Steering Committee

Which conservation practices are supported by this program?

These conservation practises align with USDA NRCS Standard Practices.

  • Alley Cropping

  • Combustion System Improvement

  • Composting Facility

  • Conservation Cover

  • Conservation Crop Rotation

  • Contour Buffer Strips

  • Contour Farming

  • Contour Orchard and Other Perennial Crops

  • Cover Crop

  • Energy Efficient Agricultural Operation

  • Feed Management

  • Fence

  • Field Border

  • Field Operations Emissions Reduction

  • Filter Strip

  • Forest Farming

  • Forest Stand Improvement

  • Hedgerow Planting

  • Herbaceous Weed Treatment

  • Herbaceous Wind Barriers

  • Irrigation System, Micro irrigation

  • Mulching

  • Nutrient Management

  • Pasture and Hay Planting

  • Prescribed Grazing

  • Residue and Tillage Management, No Till

  • Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till

  • Riparian Forest Buffer

  • Riparian Herbaceous Cover

  • Silvopasture

  • Soil Carbon Amendment

  • Stripcropping

  • Tree/Shrub Establishment

  • Tree/Shrub Site Preparation

  • Upland Wildlife Habitat Management

  • Vegetative Barrier

  • Water Well

  • Watering Facility

  • Wetland Enhancement

  • Wetland Restoration

  • Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment and Renovation

  • Woody Residue Treatment