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Rural Homebuyers

The USDA offers programs and grant opportunities exclusively available to Rural Homebuyers.

These grants are intended to aide in Farming & Agricultural operations as well as provide incentives for land owners to preserve percentages of property for wildlife conservation and habitat preservation. This is my area of specialty for home buyers!

For information directly from MDARD on these programs and what qualifications are required visit their website below.

USDA

MDARD

Habitat and Wetland Considerations for Land Owners

Conservation Reserve Program

Provides a voluntary program to agricultural producers to help them safeguard environmentally sensitive land. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. In return, CCC provides participants rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years. CRP was authorized by section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended (Pub. L. 99-198)(16 U.S.C. 3831, et seq.).

Michigan Vernal Pool Partnership

Information provided by Michigan Vernal Pool Patrol Partnerships is available to provide land owners with wetland identification and measures that can be taken to ensure these habitats are preserved on home owner property.

State and Federal Wetland Regulations

State and Federal Wetland Regulations were instated to protect these key habitats in the environment. The responsibility of land owners and community building plans to ensure these habitats are protected were passed into law by Michigan Legislature. Information on these laws can be found on Michigan.gov.

Grassroots Water Protection Program

The Source Water Protection Program (SWPP) is a joint project with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the National Rural Water Association (NRWA), a non-profit water and wastewater utility membership organization. The SWPP is designed to help prevent pollution of surface and ground water used as the primary source of drinking water by rural residents.

Other Resources

The following organizations are dedicated to preserving and protecting wildlife and habitats throughout Michigan.

I personally volunteer for several of these organizations and can provide more information on adding your family to the list of supporters!

Michigan Nature Association

The Michigan Nature Association is a nonprofit conservation organization working to protect Michigan's rare, threatened and endangered species by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.