Agricultural Preservation Fund Grants

The Agricultural Preservation Fund and the associated Agricultural Preservation Fund Board provide grants to assist eligible local units of government in establishing and implementing local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs. The primary goal of the program is to preserve agricultural land and open space from conversion to non-agricultural development.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a local unit of government (county, city, township, or village) that possesses statutory authority to zone property and has an established, qualified local PDR program that complies with Michigan Agricultural Preservation Fund Board standards.

Grant funding is awarded exclusively for the purchase of permanent agricultural conservation easements on farmland to protect agricultural operations and preserve productive soils.

Applications are accepted on an annual basis under established grant cycles (such as the FY26 Grant Application). Local units of government seeking qualification or application materials must consult the Michigan Agricultural Preservation Fund Policies & Procedures, Application Process & Scoring System, or contact the program coordinator John Krohn at 517-243-7949 or via email at KrohnJ@Michigan.gov.