Jobs and Opportunities

Jobs and Opportunities

May 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!

Map of Michigan Sustainable Farm Jobs
Post Sustainable Farm Jobs to the map using this form
Crosshatch Regional Farm Job Board for NW Michigan
Michigan SARE and MI/WI Tribal SARE and NC-SARE

SARE Graduate Student Grants open! Apply by May 29 – grants up to $20,000 “to fund graduate student projects that address sustainable agriculture issues”

Urban Farm Website Survey
Keep Growing Detroit Build Crew - Paid Building Apprenticeship – Apply by May 19
Sanctuary Farms Internship (Detroit) apply by May 16
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.
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. March 12 Webinar has more info.
OFTP Graduates Survey – we want to track your success!
Advocate to protect SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – food assistance for low-income families and individuals

Birdsong Farm – Farm worker - see pay, benefits & other details on the farm jobs map
Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network employment opportunities(Detroit) Part-time D-Town Farmer (Detroit) Still posted but says to apply by April 18
Anavery Fine Foods (Traverse City) is hiring a Livestock Production Manager
Growing Hope Urban Farm (Ypsilanti) Home Garden Internship + 3 internships and a Farmers Market assistant
Helianthus Farms - see pay, benefits & other details on the farm jobs map or contact Karl Kaufman at 8102415240 or karlkaufman48@gmail.com

Green Things Farm (Ann Arbor) Farm Stand Attendant - see pay, benefits & other details on the farm jobs map
Write a Climate Plan for your farm – contact Katie Brandt at brandtk7@msu.edu

Farmland

MI FarmLink

West Michigan

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.
7 acres in Ottawa County
76 acres in Cedar Springs for lease or partnership
78 acres for lease or partnership in Kalamazoo County
71 acres for lease in Kalamazoo County
126 acres for partnership in Ottawa 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

Southeast Michigan

Mid-Michigan

Northern Lower Michigan

Upper Peninsula

Jobs @ Farms

Map of Michigan Sustainable Farm Jobs or use this form to add your farm job

Keep Growing Detroit Build Crew - Paid Building Apprenticeship – Apply by May 19

Birdsong Farm – Farm worker - see pay, benefits & other details on the farm jobs map

Green Things Farm (Ann Arbor) Farm Stand Attendant - see pay, benefits & other details on the farm jobs map

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
Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network employment opportunities(Detroit) Part-time D-Town Farmer (apply by April 18)
Anavery Fine Foods (Traverse City) is hiring a Livestock Production Manager
Growing Hope Urban Farm (Ypsilanti) Home Garden Internship + 3 internships and a Farmers Market assistant
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
Farber Farm at Tamarack Camps (Ortonville) 3 summer education staff members
Great Lakes Incubator Farm (Traverse City) see job posting on map
Zumwalt Acres (Sheldon, IL)
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
Seasonal Field Technician (Champaign, IL)
Fairshare CSA Coalition Organic Vegetable Farm Manager Apprenticeship
Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship(Several locations in Michigan)
Titus Farms (Mason, MI)
Employment Opportunities list from MIFFS (Michigan Food and Farming Systems)
Elmwood Stock Farm (Kentucky) organic vegetable and flower production manager

Jobs @ Michigan State University

- Ziibimijwang Farm Corn Assistant / Extension Program Worker (Carp Lake) apply by May 15
- 4-H Program Assistant / Extension Program Worker, Iosco, Apply by May 18
- Tollgate Farm – Novi
  - Summer Camp Garden Kitchen Leader Apply by June 16
  - Summer Camp Educational Leader Apply by June 16
  - Summer Camp Assistant Coordinator Apply by June 16
- Specialty Crop Extension Program Worker Oceana, Apply by June 26
- Antrim & Otsego Counties Extension 4-H Program Coordinator Gaylord, apply by June 3
- 4-H Extension Program Worker Charlevoix, apply by June 17

Jobs @ Michigan Non-profits/Other

Greater Lansing Food Bank Garden Project Manager
ACCESS of West Michigan Independent Contractors for Poverty Education Workshops, also internships and board member openings (Grand Rapids)
Taste the Local Difference - Account Executive (fully remote)
Eastern Market (Detroit) jobs page Administrative and Community Engagement Specialist, 2. Events Manager and 3. Urban Ag Produce Share Assembly Team

National Jobs

Organic Farming Research Foundation Operations Associate Fully Remote or Santa Cruz, CA
CRMS Garden Intern at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, contact hmcdermott@crms.org
NOFA-NY Certification Specialist in Handling
Kentucky Sustainable Agriculture and Community Food Systems faculty lecturer
Marbleseed Job Board
COMFOOD-Jobslistserv
Good Food Jobs
Ag Solidarity Network Job Listings
Sustainable Ag Coalition (NSAC) Jobs listing
American Farmland Trust – National Policy Director and 2 other Fully Remote positions

Grants/Funding

SARE Graduate Student Grants open! Apply by May 29 – grants up to $20,000 “to fund graduate student projects that address sustainable agriculture issues”
Midwest Land Access Navigator Grants for farm businesses seeking $4000 for land access or soil/water conservation – email Katie Brandt at brandtk7@msu.edu for help filling out the grant application
MDARD Underserved, Value added, Regional Food Systems Producer Grant apply by June 11
Application Form: Regenerative Agriculture Emergency Response + Movement Sustaining Grants apply by May 19 Noon
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. March 12 Webinar has more info
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
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
Expanding Agroforestry Project paying farmers for tree planting
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)
Contact USDA Secretary Rollins about the funding freeze
Democracy 2025’s Response Center lists Executive Orders with short analyses: https://www.democracy2025.org/response-center

Legal support from Lawyers for Good Government: do you have a federal grant and are in need of legal technical support? L4GG has set up this intake form and you can complete it to request follow-up: https://www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/fund-protection-legal-guidance-request
Immigration EO analysis: these resources offer some analytical grounding in what these EOs may mean:

Guide for employers with practical advice for addressing immigration-related actions in the workplace: this is intended to help organizations protect their employees and stakeholders in the event of immigration actions so you can help protect your folks: https://www.nilc.org/resources/a-guide-for-employers-what-to-do-if-immigration-comes-to-your-workplace/
Land & Liberation 2025 Federal Funding Freeze Resources
What You Need to Know & Do to Defend Your Federal Funding
WTF?!? Office Hours Q&A
WTF?!? Federal Funding Freeze Questions/Answer Submission Form
National Young Farmers Coalition is looking for stories of farmers affected by the funding freeze

Events!

- - May 15 Land Access Workshop for Beginning Farmers 5:30 - 8:30pm Kalamazoo
  - May 15 – Nov. 13 - 2025 Organic Seed Production Online Course
  - May 16 Irrigation Workshop, Trevor Nichols Research Center, 9am to noon Fennville
  - May 19 Facing Drought: Tough Decisions and Smart Solutions for Graziers
  - May 21 Farm Business Basics - Using Spreadsheets to Understand Farm Financial Wellbeing
  - May 21/ June 18 Virtual Cover Crop Chat @ 9am
  - May 21 American Farmland Trust: Strategies for Affordable Farmland – Online
  - May 22 Urban Agriculture and Policy Workshop for Beginning Farmers, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Kalamazoo
  - May 22 Livestock Guardian Dogs 101
  - May 27 Climate Resilient Farming Strategies with Angela & Timothy Brigmon of Brigmon Farms and Ceci Pineda Virtual 4pm - 5:30pm ET
  - May 27/June 3, 10 and 174-part Farmer Movement Zoom Series -:
  - May 28 Farm Business Basics - Grants and Cost Share Programs for Farmers
  - May 28 Produce Safety Workshop for Beginning Farmers, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Kalamazoo
  - May 29 Progress & Updates on NEW USDA Meat Processing Facility in Washtenaw 6-8pm
  - June 2 Michigan Beekeeping Office Hours
  - June 2 2-hour Farmer Movement Workshop
  - June 4 Loan Readiness for First Time Borrowers 2pm
  - June 5 Soil Health Workshop for Beginning Farmers, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Kalamazoo
  - June 5 Monthly Drop-in Organic Farming Q & A - June 2025
  - June 6 Beginning Farmers "Train the Trainer" Workshop Asbury Farms, Flint
  - June 8 2-hour Farmer Movement Workshop
  - June 9/July 14/Aug 11 MVEG Farmer Peer Discussion Series
  - June 10 Beginning Farmers "Train the Trainer" Workshop June 10
  - June 10: Food Grade-Grains Field Day Kellogg Biological Station, 9am-1:30pm Hickory Corners
  - June 10 Ten Cents a Meal Application Trainings Escanaba2-4pm Register
  - June 11 Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition online meetings for Tribal food producers 12:30pm EST
  - June 12 Detroit - Michigan Paddle Stewards train the trainer – a day of kayaking at Belle Isle to learn to ID invasive aquatic species and clean paddleboats so you can teach others - complete the online MI Paddle Stewardscourse before June 12
  - June 16 Ten Cents a Meal Application Trainings Bay City – 2-4pm Register
  - June 17 UP Beginning Farmers Train the Trainer workshop (Chatham)
  - June 18 Virtual Cover Crop Chat @ 9am
  - June 23 Ten Cents a Meal Application Trainings Kalamazoo 2-4pm Register
  - June 25 Ten Cents a Meal Application Trainings Traverse City 2-4pm Register
  - June 26 Ten Cents a Meal Application Trainings Fruitport 9-11am Register
  - June 26 Lansing Grown Meet and Greet
  - June 28: Honey Bee Medicine In-Hive Clinic for Veterinary Practitioners Pollinator Performance Center, 10am to 2pm, Lansing
  - Apply by July 1 National Farmers Union's Beginning Farmer Institute free, online, 10-week intensive program from October to December
  - July 7 July Michigan Beekeeping Office Hours
  - July 10 Monthly Drop-in Organic Farming Q & A - July 2025
  - July 11 Veteran Farmer Conference, July 11-12 | Shipshewana, IN
  - July 14 Climate Resilience MVEG Farmer Peer Discussion Series
  - July 19 Alpena Michigan Paddle Stewards train the trainer – a day of kayaking to learn to ID invasive aquatic species and clean paddleboats so you can teach others - complete the online MI Paddle Stewardscourse before July 19
  - July 22 Michigan Paddle Stewards train the trainer – a day of kayaking to learn to ID invasive aquatic species and clean paddleboats so you can teach others - complete the online MI Paddle Stewardscourse before July 22
  - July 22: Beginning Farmer Field Day West Central Michigan Research and Extension Center, 9am to 4pm, Hart
  - July 28 to Nov. 17 Cover Crop Essentials online course (apply by June 23)
  - July 30 Edible Flint Food Garden Tour
  - Aug 4 August Michigan Beekeeping Office Hours
  - Aug 7 Monthly Drop-in Organic Farming Q & A - August 2025
  - Aug 7 Ten Cents a Meal Application Trainings Mason/Ingham 2-4pm Register
  - Aug 11 Organic & Other Certifications MVEG Farmer Peer Discussion Series
  - Aug 14 Ten Cents a Meal Application Trainings Macomb 2-4pm Register
  - Aug 18 Ten Cents a Meal Application Trainings Flint 2-4pm Register
  - August 18 – 19 Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference (Glen Arbor) apply to speak by April 24
  - Aug 21-22 2025 Dirt to Glass: Elevating Michigan Wine from the Ground Up
  - 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 8 September Michigan Beekeeping Office Hours
  - Sep 10 Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition online meetings for Tribal food producers 12:30pm EST
  - Sep 20 – 21 D-Town Farm Harvest Festival
  - Oct 2 Monthly Drop-in Organic Farming Q & A - October 2025
  - Nov 6 Monthly Drop-in Organic Farming Q & A - November 2025
  - Dec 4 Monthly Drop-in Organic Farming Q & A - December 2025
  Ongoing
  - 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
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

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

2025 Michigan CSA farmer survey
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

Urban Farm Website Survey
Survey for Lansing Urban Farmers
2025 Michigan CSA farmer survey
Washtenaw Tool Bank Collective
Survey for organic (or transitioning to organic) farmers who have utilized USDA programs like NRCS EQIP, CSP or FSA from the USDA and are willing to share their story – pay farmers up to $800 to participate
Survey on stress, injury, and overall mental and physical well-being in agriculture – farmers are paid to participate
2025 National Food Hub Survey
Beginning Farmer Resource & Decision Tool survey
Paid farmer & farmworker focus groups – fill out this survey for more info
Free Tool for Agroforestry Planning – only in January!
Donate food through the Michigan Agricultural Surplus Program

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

Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation Clearinghouse
Peer to Peer coaching program through Fairshare
Detroit Water Conservation Practices Survey for urban farmers
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!
Midwest Vegetable Growers Network Looking for Farmers and Collaborators
Interview + Survey about climate smart growing ($90 visa gift card)

MVEG Resources

Advocate

See the grants/funding section for advocacy about the federal funding freeze

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 President Biden here.
Find the contact information of your US House representative here.

Find the contact information of your US Senator here.

Accessibility Questions:

For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.

MSU Extension Michigan Transition to Organic Partnership Program