MSU Extension Michigan Transition to Organic Partnership Program

August 2025 Jobs & Opportunities

To signup for TOPP Jobs & Opportunities emails:

• Email listserv@list.msu.edu with SUBSCRIBE MISUSTAINABLEFARMJOBS in the body of the message (NOT just the Subject line)

Click to link to sections:

• Headlines!
• Farmland
• Jobs @ Farms
• Jobs @ Michigan State University
• Jobs @ Michigan Non-profits/Other
• National Jobs
• Grants/Funding
• Events!
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Organic Resources
• Farmer Mental Health
• Surveys & other info
• MVEG Resources
• Advocate

Or scroll below!  

Headlines!

• Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund apply by July 29  
• Four 100’ Caterpillar tunnels for sale near Midland, MI
• Help Keep Growing Detroit buy their farmland
• New Michigan Fruit Decision Tool

• Manage the Giving Tree Farm as a farmer or farmworker
• Join MIFFS Staple Crops project

• Field days, workshops and webinars for farmers transitioning to organic
• Join the Detroit Community Composting Collective Project as a composter or as one of 7 farms that will compost for their community

• July 29 Providence Farm Organic Field Day
• July 30 Edible Flint Food Garden Tour
• Aug 7 Organic Weed Management Field Day at Full Hollow Farm (Belding)
• Aug 9 – Detroit Bee Urban Growers Project Field Day at Detroit Partnership for Food Learning and Innovation – sign up to have a poster in the poster session or register to attend
• Aug 11 – 14 Free 4-Day Farm to Early Childhood Education workshop series with days on 1. Nutrition & Ag Education; 2. Gardening with Kids; 3. Local Food Procurement; and 4. Coaching, Stipends & Mini-grants
• August 18 – 19 Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference (Glen Arbor) apply to speak by April 24
• Aug 20 Organic Vegetable Pest Management Field Day at UM Campus Farm (Ann Arbor)

• Map of Michigan Sustainable Farm Jobs
• Post Sustainable Farm Jobs to the map using this form
• Crosshatch Regional Farm Job Board for NW Michigan
• Urban Farm Website Survey  
• OFTP Graduates Survey – we want to track your success!

Farmland

MI FarmLink

Southeast Michigan

• 35 acres in Imlay City
• 11 acres in Gregory for sale ($425,000)
• 77 acres in Mt. Morris for lease/partnership with solar farm
• 3 acres and home for lease in Dexter
• 17 acres in White Lake (Oakland County)
• 40 acres in Ann Arbor for lease
• 18 acres for lease or partnership in St. Clair County
• 15 acres for lease in Whitmore Lake, Washtenaw County
• 55 acres for lease in St. Clair County
• 10 acres for Lease or Partnership in Northville (Chubb E Acres)
• 32 acres for lease near Hillsdale
• 40 acres for partnership near Dexter (Jacob’s Fresh Farm)
• 130 acres in Dexter for lease, sale or partnership (Nature & Nurture Farm)
• 5 acres for partnership in Pinckney
• 13 acres for lease or partnership in Canton
• 3 Acres for lease in Lapeer
• 54 acres to lease in Jackson County
• 40 acres with barn to lease in Willis
• 38 acres in Dexter with barn
• 35 acres to lease in Northville
• 20 acres near Ann Arbor

Northern Lower Michigan

• 30 acres in Harrisville for Lease
• 150 acre hayfield for lease or sale near Petoskey
• 40 acres on Beaver Island for partnership with farmer housing
• 6 acres in Charlevoix for partnership 
• 119 acres for lease in Presque Isle County (69 acres tillable)
• 10 acre lavendar farm for sale in Traverse City
• 23 acre farm & former B & B in Harrisville for sale 
• 25 acres in Leelanau County
• 11 acres in Leelanau County
• The Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF)(Traverse City, MI)
• Climate Change Permaculture Incubator Farm

West Michigan

• Farm with orchard, forest and tillable land in Bangor seeks BIPOC farmers to farm on donated land using The Farmers' Land Trust collective land ownership model. Contact Julius Buzzard for more information at julius@growinghope.net
• Two greenhouses available in Montague/Whitehall area (40' × 196' and 28' × 96') with propane heat and fertigation. Contact Brian Hekkema at 231-206-7715 for more info.
• 78 acres for lease or partnership in Kalamazoo County 
• 90 acres in Ottawa County
• 7 acres in Ottawa County
• 76 acres in Cedar Springs for lease or partnership
• 71 acres for lease in Kalamazoo County
• 100 acre pastured livestock farm for partnership & succession near Middleville (Crane Dance Farm!)
• 40 acres for lease in Reed City
• 1 acre in Pentwater for lease, sale or partnership
• https://earthenheart.com/ affordable sustainable rental housing and ag land

Mid-Michigan

• Manage the Giving Tree Farm as a farmer or farmworker

• 33 acres in Barryton for Lease
• 20 acres in Sanilac County for lease, sale or partnership
• 160 acres (10 tillable) for lease in Sears
• Several plots for partnership in the City of Saginaw
• 26 acres for lease or partnership in Williamston
• 4 acres with home for sale in Tustin

Upper Peninsula

• 28 acres for lease or sale in the UP
• 35 acres for lease in Pickford

Out of State

50 acres in East Troy, Wisconsin

Jobs @ Farms

• Manage the Giving Tree Farm as a farmer or farmworker
• Map of Michigan Sustainable Farm Jobs or use this form to add your farm job
• Crosshatch Regional Farm Job Board for NW Michigan
• Naturally Better Soil Products Internship in Compost Market Development - see pay, benefits & other details on the farm jobs map
• Keep Growing Detroit – internships available
• Growing Hope Urban Farm (Ypsilanti) Home Garden Internship + 3 internships and a Farmers Market assistant
• Adaptive Seeds (Oregon)
• Helianthus Farms - see pay, benefits & other details on the farm jobs map or contact Karl Kaufman at 8102415240 or karlkaufman48@gmail.com
• MBG Marketing Farm & Greenhouse Operator at a blueberry farm (Grand Junction)
• Asbury Farm (Flint) see job posting on map
• Great Lakes Incubator Farm (Traverse City) see posting on map
• Organic Vegetable Farm Manager Apprenticeship Program (Wisconsin, many locations)
• The Wegener Farm, Farmworker (Fenton)
• Ingham County Land Bank Garden Program Contractor email Cody Mohr at CMohr@ingham.org
• Slow Farm (Ann Arbor, MI) 2 Assistant Farm Managers and Farm Hand positions
• Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship(Several locations in Michigan) 
• Titus Farms (Mason, MI)
• Employment Opportunities list from MIFFS (Michigan Food and Farming Systems)

Jobs @ Michigan State University 

• T
• Migrant Education Program Recruiter apply by July 31
• Fruit Research aide apply by Aug. 1
• Fruit Farm Research Aide Apply by Aug 2
• Field Crops Climate Technician / Extension Program Worker apply by Aug. 4
• Digester/Compost Facilities Asst Manager / Farm Assistant Manager apply by Aug. 5
• MSU Migrant Student Services - High School Equivalency Program (HEP) Evening Instructors
• National Migrant Scholars Internship aide

Jobs @ Michigan Non-profits/Other  

• Meridian Market Assistant Market Manager Position Okemos
• ACCESS of West Michigan Independent Contractors for Poverty Education Workshops, also internships and board member openings (Grand Rapids)
• Eastern Market (Detroit) jobs page Urban Ag Produce Share Assembly Team

National Jobs

• Practical Farmers of Iowa Horticulture Education Manager (Ames, IA)
• Michael Field Agricultural Institute Videographer for Regenerative Ag Video series
• Organic Farming Research Foundation Research & Education Program Fellow Fully Remote or Santa Cruz, CA and General Internships
• Seed Savers Exchange Customer Service Manager
• National Organic Coalition: Part-time Coalition Manager
• CRMS Garden Intern at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, contact hmcdermott@crms.org
• Marbleseed Job Board
• COMFOOD-Jobslistserv  
• Good Food Jobs
• Ag Solidarity Network Job Listings
• Sustainable Ag Coalition (NSAC) Jobs listing
• American Farmland Trust – 5 jobs, hybrid or fully remote

Grants/Funding

• Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund apply by July 29 
• NIFA will release 20+ grants in the next month – many of these are larger grants for collaborative teams of farm educators and researchers – SHORT application window of 2 to 3 weeks

• Michigan SARE and MI/WI Tribal SARE and NC-SARE
• Digital directory of 100+ funding opportunities – MSU Center for Regional Food Systems
• Soil Health Opportunities & Tools Fund (SHOT Fund) EQIP Bridge Loan program to fund you in your NRCS EQIP projects if/when funding is frozen. No fees, no penalties, and no interest. To apply, use this short pre-application form and the team will schedule a brief 30 minute call to learn more about your needs.
• Regenerative Farmer Assurance Fund (RFAF) for farmers affected by the federal funding freeze
• Become a Grow Detroit's Young Talent (GDYT) worksite for 2025
• Ongoing - Boost your farm or food business: Online grant writing course
• Eastern Michigan University’s 2025 Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship (ECE) and $30,000 Venture Challenge for aspiring Michigan entrepreneurs, Apply by Sep. 8
• Climate Smart Farming Funding Resource Library
• Detroit Legacy Business Project for businesses open 30 years or more
• GROW Lansing Grants $5000 for community gardens and sustainable land use in Lansing
• Grassroots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programsfrom the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) 
• MIFFS Funding & Grants list
• Grants and Funding Opportunitiesfrom the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) 
• Financial Incentives Database (FIND) Tool to compare farm conservation programs and funding options

Federal Funding Freeze & Firings:

• Civil Eats Food Policy Tracker
• USDA Contract Freezes: Filing an NAD Appeal or Demand Letter (Farm Commons)
• USDA Contract Freezes and Terminations: Legal Action Steps for Farmers with Signed EQIP and CSP Contracts (Farm Commons)

• Legal support for funding freeze from Lawyers for Good Government
• Immigration Executive Orders analysis and factsheet
• Employer guide for immigration-related actions in the workplace
• National Young Farmers Coalition is looking for stories of farmers affected by the funding freeze

Events!

• July 29 Providence Farm Organic Field Day
• July 30 Edible Flint Food Garden Tour
• July 30 Michigan Viticulture Field Day and Michigan Enology Experience
• July 31 Field Crops Virtual Breakfast Series: Insect Diagnostic Topics (RUP/CCA) 7- 8 a.m
• Aug 1 Preserving Farmland in SW Michigan
• Aug 1 Summer Irrigation Workshop Hickory Corners
• Aug 3 Nut and Chestnut Growers Conference
• Aug 4 August Michigan Beekeeping Office Hours
• Aug 5 Virtual Cover Crops Workshop from Practical Farmers of Iowa 2-5pm Central Time
• Aug 7 Organic Weed Management Field Day at Full Hollow Farm (Belding)
• Aug 7 Ten Cents a Meal Application Trainings Mason/Ingham 2-4pm Register 
• Aug 7 City of Detroit Land Based Projects Office Hours, Noon to 1pm, 1^st Thursdays, monthly
• Aug 9 – Detroit Bee Urban Growers Project Field Day at Detroit Partnership for Food Learning and Innovation – sign up to have a poster in the poster session or register to attend
• Aug 11 Great Lakes Urban Farming Virtual Office Hours
• Aug 11 Organic & Other Certifications MVEG Farmer Peer Discussion Series
• Aug 11 – 14 Free 4-Day Farm to Early Childhood Education workshop series with days on 1. Nutrition & Ag Education; 2. Gardening with Kids; 3. Local Food Procurement; and 4. Coaching, Stipends & Mini-grants
• Aug 14 Monthly Drop-in Organic Farming Q & A - August 2025
• Aug 14 Ten Cents a Meal Application Trainings Macomb 2-4pm Register 

• Aug. 15 - Farming Forward - Tackling Farm Transition, Frankenmuth, MI

• Aug 18 Ten Cents a Meal Application Trainings Flint 2-4pm Register
• Aug 19 New Farmer U in Wisconsin $35
• August 18 – 19 Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference (Glen Arbor) apply to speak by April 24
• Aug 20 Organic Vegetable Pest Management Field Day at UM Campus Farm (Ann Arbor)
• Aug 20 Selling MI Honey & Maple Syrup - Safely! Webinar, 2 – 4pm
• Aug 21-22 2025 Dirt to Glass: Elevating Michigan Wine from the Ground Up
• Aug 23 Annual Tour of Detroit Farms & Gardens – registration info coming soon
• Aug 28 – Beneficial Plants & Weeds @ Growing Hope in Ypsilanti
• September to November – Michigan Conservation Stewards Program register by August 17
  • Alpena County
  • Newaygo County
  • Oakland County
  • Oceana County
  • Clair County
  • Washtenaw County
• 4: 3rd Annual Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Field Day Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners
• Sep 4 Monthly Drop-in Organic Farming Q & A - September 2025
• Sep 4 City of Detroit Land Based Projects Office Hours, Noon to 1pm, 1^st Thursdays, monthly
• Sep 8 September Michigan Beekeeping Office Hours
• Sep 10 Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition online meetings for Tribal food producers 12:30pm EST
• Sep 12 – 14 International Herb Symposium Cincinnati, OH
• Sep 20 – 21 D-Town Farm Harvest Festival
• Sep 23 Kentucky Mechanical Weed Control Field Day Lexington KY
• Sep 24 Flint Food Summit
• Sep 25 – 26 Detroit Food Policy Summit (save the date – will add registration link soon….)
• Oct 2 Monthly Drop-in Organic Farming Q & A - October 2025
• Oct 2 City of Detroit Land Based Projects Office Hours, Noon to 1pm, 1^st Thursdays, monthly
• Oct 4 Michigan Beekeepers Association Fall Conference
• Oct 9 Organic Apple Orchard Tour at Third Leaf Farm (Greenville)
• Oct 11 Farm Field Day with Fisheye Farm (Detroit)
• Oct 18-19 JM Fortier Workshop at Lakeview Hill Farm $125
• Oct 21 What are Your Farm Certification Goals? TOPP Farmer webinar series, Noon to 1pm
• Oct 23 Nutrient Management for Organic Farms - Part 1: Food Safety and Water Pollution TOPP Farm Educator webinar series, Noon to 1pm
• Oct 28 Organic Market Premium - How Much Can I Expect to Get for My Products? TOPP Farmer webinar series, Noon to 1pm
• Oct 30 Nutrient Management for Organic Farms - Part 2: Managing fertility and soil ecosystems TOPP Farm educator webinar series, Noon to 1pm
• Nov 4 How to Make Money in Organic Farming TOPP Farmer webinar series, Noon to 1pm
• Nov 6 Organic Pesticide Management TOPP farm educator webinar series, Noon to 1pm
• Nov 13 Monthly Drop-in Organic Farming Q & A - November 2025
• Dec 4 Monthly Drop-in Organic Farming Q & A - December 2025

Ongoing

• Ongoing – Starting a School or Community Garden
• Ongoing - Pollinator Champions
• Ongoing - Is Beekeeping Right for Me?
• Ongoing – Local Food Marketing Academy
  • Coupon Code for farmers to take the course for $200
• Ongoing – Cottage Food Law, ServSafe, Farm to School and Food Safety Classes
• Ongoing - Detroit Food Policy Council Meetings
• Ongoing - Boost your farm or food business: Online grant writing course
• Ongoing - Michigan Conservation Stewards Program
• Ongoing - Communicating with Legislators - New Online Course
• Ongoing - Farm Pulse Financial Management & Analysis discount code for signing up MVEG2025 - Reduces the cost from $299 to $24 ($275 off); limited to 20 farms!
• Ongoing - Forest School teacher trainings
• Ongoing - Small grains shared learning calls – 1^st Fridays, 11-noon Eastern
• Ongoing - Organic Farmer Circles for Black, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous, Asian, Queer and all farmers
• Ongoing – Midwest Permaculture Design Courses ½ off for regenerative farmers, community growers, and others
• Ongoing - 3^rd Wednesdays Organic Farmers Association Crop Insurance workgroup
• Ongoing – Cornell Small Farms online courses
• Ongoing – TEAMs program is a training for farm apprentices or employees by the Fairshare CSA Coalition
• Ongoing - Becoming the Employer of Choice training for farm employers by the Fairshare CSA Coalition
• Ongoing – Free Self-Paced Online Class for Small-scale Chicken Farmers
• Ongoing – Savanna Institute classes
• Ongoing - $75 Value Added Producer grant on demand class
• Ongoing - Free Rodale Courses
  • Transition To Certified Organic Agriculture
  • Getting Your Organic Certification
  • Transition To Organic Livestock Production
  • Hobby Beekeeping
  • Rodale Institute Annual Virtual Field Day

Events list from Ag Solidarity Network

Events list from MIFFS (Michigan Food and Farming Systems)

Volunteer Opportunities

• Volunteer at D-Town farm in Detroit on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to Noon
• Volunteer at Keep Growing Detroit: May thru September - Tuesdays & Thursdays 5-7pm; October - Tuesdays & Thursdays 4-6pm
• Volunteer at Tollgate Farm: Tuesdays and Wednesday, contact Monique Mose at hemkermo@msu.edu
• Volunteer at Sanctuary Farm: July 12, August 9, September 13, October 11, November 8
• Growing Hope's  Home Vegetable Garden Program (Ypsilanti) seeks Garden mentors who speak English, Spanish and/or Arabic are needed, garden experience required, but you do not need to be an expert 
• Allen Neighborhood Center Hunter Park GardenHouse (Lansing) volunteer on Mondays: 9:30am – noon or Thursdays: 5 – 7:30pm
• Farmstead Planning Volunteer (Jackson, MI) Contact Maria at dreams@gmail.com
• Wolcott Mill Farm Center
• We3Queens Botanical Garden – contact Anne Lynn at w3qoutreach@gmail.com
• Cover Crop Survey
• Healthy Soils, Healthy Waters-Michigan growers in Lenawee, Hillsdale, and Monroe counties to participate in a new research project to further understand the connection between conservation practices, changes in soil health, and water quality improvements.

Organic Resources

2025 Field days, workshops and webinars for farmers transitioning to organic

Resource Map for Michigan Organic Growers

Join the Michigan Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) as a Mentor, a Mentee or attend a field day or webinar to learn more:  

• Videos from past TOPP events
•  Q + A session on all things organic farming.

 Apply for Real Organic Project Certification today!

Michigan CSA Network

• Farmer Advisory Committee FAQ: https://bit.ly/3QaMuca$900 for 30 hours 
• Regional Farm Network FAQ: https://bit.ly/RegionalFarmNetworkFAQ
• The Network has funding to support the following activities in each region:
• Field Days - $500
• Skill-based Workshops - $1000
• Grower Gatherings - $500
• Marketing events/support - CSA Fair/Open House Event - $2000

Farm Sign-up Form for both Farmer Advisory Committee and Regional Network Leads : https://forms.gle/3d5WfDfaKAA8UnEC9 

CSA Renewals Drive resource package

Farmer Mental Health

• Survey on stress, injury, and overall mental and physical well-being in agriculture – farmers are paid to participate
• State Farmer Mental Health Resource List 
• Michigan Teletherapy for farmers: https://www.canr.msu.edu/managing_farm_stress/teletherapy-program
• Find a therapist: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
• Find an Inclusive therapist - national search: https://www.inclusivetherapists.com/
• MVEG Farmer Resiliency & Mental Health Resources: https://www.mvegnetwork.org/resources
• Farm Aid Crisis Hotline: 1-800-FARM-AID (1-800-327-6243).Monday through Friday from 9am – 9pm ET; 6am – 6pm PT. The Spanish Hotline is answered Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm ET.
• National Suicide Hotline: dial 988

Surveys & other info

Surveys

• Survey: Have you experienced barriers to accessing farmland?
• Urban Farm Website Survey
• Survey for Lansing Urban Farmers

• Survey on Economic Impacts of Regional Grainsheds

• Beginning Farmer Resource & Decision Tool survey
• Paid farmer & farmworker focus groups – fill out this survey for more info
• Michigan Climate Smart Agriculture Survey – fill out 1 part or all 5 😊
• Part 1: Defining Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)
• Part 2: Scope, Criteria, and Measurable Impacts
• Part 3: Farmers Perspectives & Incentives; Verification Process & Standards
• Part 4: Integration with Existing Programs and Initiative; Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
• Part 5: Scaling Up and Long-Term Sustainability; Monitoring, Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement

• Detroit Water Conservation Practices Survey for urban farmers
• Midwest Vegetable Growers Network Looking for Farmers and Collaborators
• Interview + Survey about climate smart growing ($90 visa gift card)

Other info

• Develop a Heat and Air Quality Safety Plan for Your Farm Workers

• "Staying Safe While Working in Conditions of Smoke and Fire"

• Detroit People’s Food Co-op – sign up as a local supplier Detroit-based, Black-owned & other farms encouraged to apply
• Apply to sell at Eastern Market
• MIFFS Wholesale Producers List – add your farm to the list!

• Donate food through the Michigan Agricultural Surplus Program
• Washtenaw Tool Bank Collective
• Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation Clearinghouse

• Peer to Peer coaching program through Fairshare

MVEG Resources

• Farm Recordkeeping workbook with downloadable templates! + Event recording + Discussion notes
• Production & Technical Resources Catalog
• Farmer Resiliency & Mental Health Resources Catalog
• Printable Farmer Resiliency & Health Resources Handout

Advocate

Advocate for Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems, Food Assistance and ways for new farmers to access land in the next Farm Bill:

• Advocate to protect SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – food assistance for low-income families and individuals
• National Young Farmer Coalition advocacy campaigns
• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition – Take Action
• Contact the President here.
• Find the contact information of your US House representative here.
• Find the contact information of your US Senator here.