MIFarmLink July Newsletter

July is the heart of summer. The days are long, the crops are coming in, and the pace of the season is in full swing. It’s a busy time, but also a rewarding one—full of growth, hard work, and plenty of purpose.

Whether you’re harvesting early crops or still tending the fields, July is about staying steady and following the rhythm of the land.

At MIFarmLink, we’re right here with you—cheering you on, sharing your stories, and continuing to grow alongside you. Last month, we celebrated one year since launching our updated website, designed to support Farm Profiles and Farm Seekers and to take our work statewide. That launch marked a turning point—enabling deeper connections, more accessible resources, and a broader reach for farmers across Michigan.

Here’s to a season full of good work, strong roots, and community. 🌻

Sincerely,

The MIFarmLink Team

(Team MIFarmLink, #mifarmlinker)

Read on to see upcoming events, peruse our newest property listings, and hear from farmers how MIFarmLink has helped them connect!

MIFarmLink and MSU Extension are teaming up on a SARE-funded research project to better understand the obstacles farmers face when trying to access or transfer farmland. Your input will help shape tools and strategies to support successful land transitions. If you’ve experienced challenges buying, leasing, or passing on farmland, take the short survey here.

Each month we highlight a farm that’s available to lease or purchase.

Cycling Salamander Gallery & Gardens in Charlevoix is seeking a farm partner to co-create a vibrant regenerative farm on their charming 6-acre property. With 1–2 acres available for cultivation, a historic orchard, housing, water access, and a built-in audience from their gallery and events, this is an ideal spot for someone passionate about flowers, native plants, and small-scale farming. Located right on US-31 near downtown Charlevoix, the farm has great potential to serve the local food and wedding industries while educating and inspiring visitors.

Interested? Create a profile to communicate with the farm/farmer.

6 acres available in Charlevoix County | MIFarmLink

Each month we highlight a farmer looking to connect to land.

Kate and Ken are a family of five rooted in Leelanau County with deep ties to Traverse City. They're actively seeking a small to midsize farm in northern Michigan to grow their dreams of a certified organic operation. With experience through formal ag education and internships, they’re hoping to find a farm partner, lease-to-own opportunity, or sale arrangement to support a diverse farm including vegetables, fruit trees, and livestock.

Know of available land? Help farmers like them find the right opportunity at mifarmlink.org.

Kate and Ken | MIFarmLink

Julius Buzzard (he/him) is the Executive Director at Growing Hope. Julius also serves on the Washtenaw County Black Farmers Fund, Greenbelt Advisory Commission, Washtenaw County Food Policy Council, and several other food and land access-oriented movements across Southeast Michigan. Julius serves on MIFarmLink because he believes that land access for local, small and historically disadvantaged farmers a crucial and tangible step towards rematriation.

A native Michigander, Julius found his home in Ypsilanti in 2013 and never looked back. He spent the formative years of his career within the local nonprofit and education sectors. He always created ways to tie his passion for growing and environmental justice into each context. Developing meaningful and intentional relationships with the community is at the core of everything Julius does—knowing that together, we can foster a safe, caring, and just food system and community as a whole. Whether it was gardening with his grandparents, participating in community gardens, teaching students how to grow and harvest, or tending his own garden, Julius has lived a life with his hands in the dirt. These experiences have formed three basic principles: relationships matter, food is for everyone, and the land will be our liberator.

July is Wildlife Conservation Month in Michigan—a time to celebrate the natural beauty and biodiversity that make our state so special. From thriving wild turkey populations to the return of the Kirtland’s warbler, conservation efforts have helped restore wildlife across Michigan. These successes are thanks in part to responsible land management, science-based policies, and the dedication of landowners and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

At MIFarmLink, we believe that working lands and wild lands go hand in hand. Farmland can provide essential habitat and play a vital role in supporting wildlife. By connecting landowners with the next generation of farmers who share a vision for conservation, we’re helping ensure Michigan’s rural landscape remains a place where both agriculture and wildlife can thrive.

• July- 2025 Knowing MI Forest extension education workshop
• Aug. 1st - Preserving Farmland in SW Michigan, Berrien County
• Aug. 15th - Farming Forward - Tackling Farm Transition, Frankenmuth, MI
• Aug. 18th-19th- Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference, Glenn Arbor, MI
• Aug. 20th- Organic Vegetable Pest Management Field Day, Ann Arbor, MI
• Aug. 21st-22nd - Dirt to Glass Conference, Traverse City, MI
• Sept 4th - KBS LTAR Third Annual Field Day, Hickory Corners, MI
• Sept. 23rd-24th - 2025 Great Lakes Women’s Business Conference , Novi, MI

• Every Thursday through Sept.- 2025 MSU Extension Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series

• Aug. 26th- Land Transfer Navigators Regional Forums- Online

• Farmers Market at the Capitol

• Eastern Market – Detroit

• Royal Oak Farmers Market – Royal Oak

• Shelby Farmers Market- Shelby Township

• Ann Arbor Farmers Market – Ann Arbor

• Ypsilanti Farmers Markets – Ypsilanti

• Flint Farmers’ Market – Flint

• Midland Area Farmers Market – Midland

• Marquette Farmers Market – Marquette

• Traverse City Farmers Market – Traverse City

The Land Transfer Navigators program is led in partnership by American Farmland Trust with support from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The goal of this initiative is to dramatically increase the transfer of farm and ranch land to a new generation of producers.

The program catalyzes practitioners from across the country to support equitable farm and ranch transfers that work for both entering and exiting generations.

Farmers just starting out with 10 years or less of operating a farm or ranch are considered Beginning Farmers according to the USDA. The USDA offers a variety of programs and services to help beginning farmers get started or grow their operation, including farm loans, crop insurance, conservation programs, and disaster assistance.

Farming takes courage - it can be capital-intense with plenty of uncertainty. CultivateGrowth offers a helping hand to modern and diverse young, beginning and small farmers with our unmatched expertise and all-encompassing support. Helping small and beginning farmers of all production styles obtain and maintain the resources they need is a top priority for GreenStone.

CultivateGrowth provides financing in unique and individualized situations through our relaxed underwriting standards to help the next generation of agriculture overcome the farming's financial challenges. Our expertise in agricultural financing, in addition to our understanding of specialized Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs, allows us to better understand your business cycles and the details in your operation as we provide loans for young, beginning or small farmers.