Michigan Integrated Food & Farming Systems

BEEKEEPERS SERVE US AGRICULTURE BY PROVIDING ~$20 BILLION IN POLLINATION SERVICES ANNUALLY FOR 35%OF CROPS GROWN. IN RECENT DECADES, HONEY BEES HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HIGH RATES OF ANNUAL LOSS,MAKING EDUCATION KEY TO PROFITABLE BEEKEEPING. IN 2015, MICHIGAN FOOD AND FARMING SYSTEMS,MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND BEE WISE FARMS LLC DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED THE HEROES TO HIVES(H2H) PROGRAM. CURRENTLY, H2H IS A NATION'S LARGEST BEEKEEPING EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH NEARLY1,000 ALUMNI OPERATING OVER 4,000 BEE HIVES ACROSS THE US. H2H USES A 9-MONTH HYBRID EDUCATIONPROGRAM THAT TAKES STUDENTS THROUGH A YEAR OF BEEKEEPING TRAINING USING A SELF-PACED ONLINECERTIFICATE PROGRAM THAT IS COUPLED WITH HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AT SEVEN LOCATIONS INMICHIGAN. IN 2021, PROGRAM ENROLLMENT HAS INCREASED TO OVER 7,000 PARTICIPANTS COMING FROM ALL 50STATES, US TERRITORIES (EXCEPT SAMOA) AND ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL PARTICIPATING FROM ASIA AND EUROPE.THIS EXTREME GROWTH HAS NECESSITATED PROGRAM EXPANSION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING STUDENTENROLLMENT. THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS TO EXPAND THE CURRENT PROGRAM TO INCLUDE: 1) HANDS-ON EDUCATIONALSITES IN MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, AND MISSOURI, 2) NEW ONLINE EDUCATIONAL MODULE COVERING SMALLBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/MARKETING, 3) NEW ONLINE EDUCATIONAL MODULE ON FINANCIAL/PERSONAL RISKMANAGEMENT, 4) NEW ONLINE EDUCATIONAL MODULE ON WORKING IN THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY, AND 5)RESOURCES AND OUTREACH MATERIALS CONNECTING STUDENTS TO USDA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE EXPECTTHAT THROUGH EXPANSION OF THE H2H PROGRAM WE WILL SUPPORT VETERANS OWNING THEIR OWN SMALLBEEKEEPING BUSINESS, DIVERSIFYING EXISTING FARM BUSINESSES, AND FINDING EMPLOYMENT IN THECOMMERCIAL INDUSTRY.

TO PROVIDE SDVFRS THROUGH PEER TO PEER SUPPORT NETWORKS, NAVIGATING AND APPLYING FOR USDA PROGRAMS, MARKETING, PLANNING, AND SUPPORT TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL AGRICULTURE ENTREPRENEURS BY DELIVERING FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE CURRICULUM IN BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH.

NURTURING RESILIENCE THROUGH FARMER-LED NETWORKS

SERVING MICHIGAN`S MULTICULTURAL AGRICULTURE

RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

LEVERAGING TRUSTED NETWORKS TO ACCESS USDA PROGRAMS

ENHANCING PATHWAYS

BRIDGING GAPS THROUGH FARMER LED NETWORKS

TO EXPAND THE DELIVERY OF CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE, EMPHASIS ON CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE, TO HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED FARMERS AND RA NCHERS INCLUDING OUTREACH TO MINORITY STUDENTS.

MIFFS WILL ASSIST SDVFRS TO OWN AND SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE VIABLE FARMS/RANCHES IN MICHIGAN. THE MISSION OF MIFFS IS TO CONNECT BEGINNING, MINORITY, AND SMALL-SCALE FARMERS TO RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH PROFITABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS.

TO TRAIN AND WORK WITH NEW IMMIGRANTS (PRIMARILY LATINO AND HMONG BUT ALSO LAOTIAN KAREN AND EAST AFRICAN) IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA

TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO RISK MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR SMALL-SCALE LIMITED RESOURCE AND MINORITY PRODUCERS OF F

RME OUTREACH

STATEWIDE FARMER MARKET TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND NETWORKING TO EXPAND AND PROMOTE DIRECT PRODUCE TO CONSUMER OPPORTUNITIES

SUPPORTING THE MANY FACES OF FARMING THROUGH FARM BILL OPPORTUNITIES

RME OUTREACH

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

INCREASING FARMERS MARKET ACCESS TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN MICHIGAN

PROMOTE AWARENESS OF FSA AND USDA PROGRAMS IN MICHIGAN.

SERVING MICHIGAN`S MULTICULTURAL AGRICULTURE