Michigan Farm News (2024)

FAQs

How many acres do you need to be considered a farm in Michigan? ›

(h) "Farmland" means 1 or more of the following: (i) A farm of 40 or more acres in 1 ownership, with 51% or more of the land area devoted to an agricultural use.

The distribution of farms in Michigan shows about 80% of Michigan's farms are in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula where soil and climatic conditions favorable for agricultural production are found.

One of Michigan's most beloved crops, Michigan's apple growers provide an economic impact estimated at more than $700 million. Michigan is one of the nation's leading producers of apples, with an annual harvest tallying more than 1 billion bushels of tasty fruit.

The income you can make from farming 40 acres depends on location, current market, and the type of crops and livestock. If you make the right choices, expect to earn a few hundred thousand from your operations. What are the most cost-effective crops to grow on 40 acres?

In order to qualify for the exemption, owners of parcels that are not classified agricultural must file an affidavit, Form 2599, claiming the exemption with the local assessor by May 1. An assessor will use the status of the land on May 1st in making their determination for qualification.

Medium-sized farms ranged from 2,000-5,000 acres, while small-acreage farms had less than 2,000 cropped acres.

China held 349,442 acres in 2022, which is slightly less than 1% of foreign-held acres. Forest land accounted for over 48% of all reported foreign held acreage, cropland for over 28%, and pasture and other agricultural land for over 21%.

Michigan's cropland value increased 11.3 percent from the previous year to $5,900 per acre. The Lake States region experienced a 10.9 percent increase to $6,620 per acre. The average value of cropland in the United States increased 8.1 percent from 2022 to $5,460 per acre.

According to Michigan State University when it comes to Michigan agriculture and farmland, The Netherlands is the largest owner in Michigan at 458,436 acres followed by Canada at 359,679 acres.

State Fruit: Tart Cherries (Unofficial)

Michigan is the nation's leading producer of the fruit, accounting for 75 percent of the country's supply. The majority are grown in the northwest counties of the state. The area is so well known for its cherries that Traverse City hosts an annual National Cherry Festival.

Which vegetable is grown the most in Michigan? ›

Michigan is the largest producing state of cucumbers for pickling and potatoes for chipping. Michigan also ranks first in the nation in the pr oduction of asparagus for processing and summer and winter squash for processing.

Cattle and beef production is the largest sector of the United States' agriculture industry. Michigan's cattle herd totals 1.14 million, of which 120,000 are beef cows and 425,000 are dairy cows. Cattle are raised in 80 of Michigan's 83 counties on about 13,000 farms and ranches.

While it is possible to generate enough income through farming 20 to 40 acres, in most cases folks approach this as a part-time venture. It is much better to select an income-producing idea that you enjoy and want to do even if no profit is realized.

Depending on your geographic location, weather and how many cuts per year you make, a single acre of land should net you anywhere from 8 to 14 tons of alfalfa hay per year. So for 5 tons, even a half acre should get you there most years.

Yes! With a well-designed plot, a 2 acre farm is definitely enough land to grow your own food.

Michigan Right to Farm Act

The Act protects farmers who voluntarily follow the Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs) from nuisance lawsuits over matters such as odor or dust so long as the farmers comply with a variety of practices ranging from manure management to water use.

The average farm size rose from 441 acres (178 hectares) in 2017 to 463 acres (187 hectares) in 2022. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called the survey "a wake-up call" at an event at the USDA headquarters on Tuesday.

How Many Acres Is A Ranch? In the United States, a ranch is generally considered to be at least 1,000 acres. However, smaller ranches can range from several hundred acres to around 440 acres, while larger family farms can be classified as ranches starting from approximately 1,400 acres.