Jobs and Opportunities

Jobs and Opportunities

TOPP Jobs & Opportunities:

July 2026

A listing of current jobs, events and opportunities for new, beginning, small, urban and sustainable farmers.

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Events, Webinars, & Courses
Job Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
Find Farmland
Grants & Funding
Farmer Resources
Surveys, Advocacy & Other Info

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July Headlines

Dangerous Air Quality - Michigan farmers and farmworkers encouraged to stay indoors

Check Airnow.gov for your local AQI and learn what the numbers mean.
Try to work 100% indoors today to protect your lungs.
Wear a good covid N95 mask or respirator if you need to work outdoors, even briefly.
When indoors, close your windows and turn on air filters if you have one. You can even tape a furnace filter onto a box fan if you don't have a home air filter.
Use recirculate on your air conditioner in your car if you need to drive.
Learn more in these articles with more information from Michigan AgrAbility and MSU Extension.

Registration open for Michigan First-Generation Farm Mentors Tour Series! The Michigan First-Generation Farmer Mentorship Program invites beginning and aspiring farmers to visit four diverse Michigan farms, meet experienced producers and learn how they have built successful, sustainable farm businesses.

Vendor and Market Operator Opportunity for farmers/farmhands in Detroit

Michigan Conservation Stewardship for Farmers Project for Washtenaw, Lenawee, Monroe, Jackson, Hillsday and Wayne Counties. Filling out the application alone pays $500, but the program reward per farm will be on average $25K for practices from this menu.

West Michigan TOPP Farm Tour: Explore Farm to Institution Markets from schools to hospitals – August 11th in Muskegon

Northwest Michigan TOPP Field Day: Farming for People, Purpose, and Profit – August 18th in Petoskey

Organic Cost Share is now available for 2025 and 2026!

Bowers Farm Farm Manager – Apply by July 28 (Bloomfield Hills)

Events, Webinars, & Courses

Times are in EST unless otherwise stated.

July

Jul 15 – TOPP Webinar - Building a Biological Powerhouse in Your Soil Webinar 2: Infusing Your Soil and Plants with Beneficial Microbes (Online)
Jul 16 – TOPP Educator Webinars: Organic Certification for Urban Farms - 12-1pm (Online)
Jul 16 – RAFI Food & Solidarity webinar - 12-1pm (Online)
Jul 21 Postponed – Washtenaw TOPP Farm Tours (Whitmore Lake, MI)
Jul 21 – Addressing ICE Activity in Farm Country – 12pm (Online)
Jul 21 – Dive deep into dairy grazing: pastures, processing, and economic opportunities field day (Annie G’s Dairy, Ann Arbor)
Jul 23 – TOPP Educator Webinars: Research & Education that Centers Farmer Knowledge - 12-1pm
Jul 25 – Beekeeping Workshop in Lansing, MI
Jul 29 – Michigan Viticulture Field Day and Michigan Enology Experience (Benton Harbor)
Jul 30 – TOPP Educator Webinars: How Producers Weigh the Cost–Benefit of Organic Certification
Jul 31 – Berrien County Organic Agriculture: Tour 3 Value-Added and Agritourism Farms

August

Aug 1 – Wild your Campus: Gather and graze - 5-8pm (Dexter)
Aug 5 – MI Farm Mentors - Whitney Farmstead Farm Tour – 10am (Dexter)
Aug 5 – Keep Growing Detroit Annual Farm & Garden Tour - TOPP Partner Event
Aug 7 – GreenStone Loan Planning – 11 a.m.-Noon ET (online)
Aug 11 – West Michigan TOPP Farm Tour: Explore Farm to Institution Markets from schools to hospitals
Aug 11 – MI Farm Mentors - Hazelwood Flower Farm Tour – 11am (Oakland Township)
Aug 11 – Michigan Agricultural Irrigation Water Use Efficiency Program – 10am – 1pm (East Lansing)
Aug 12 – Rodale Institute Advisor Call on their “Advancing Regional Organic Markets: A Farmer’s Toolkit” - 12-1pm (online)
Aug 14 – Cropping System Field Day (Hickey Farms LLC)
Aug 14 – Cropping Systems at Hicky Farms (Vermontville)
Aug 17 - 20 – Michigan Young Farmers Freedom School for girls and femme identifying youth (Bangor)
Aug 18 – Northwest Michigan TOPP Field Day: Farming for People, Purpose, and Profit (Petoskey)
Aug 18 – MI Farm Mentors - Twig End Farm Tour – 11am (Flint)
Aug 21 – Healthy Soils for Strong Farms (Osceola County Community Building)
Aug 22 – Perennial Farm Ecosystem Conference (Traverse City)
Aug 27 – MI Farm Mentors - Heartwood Forest Farm Tour – 11am (Cedar)
Aug 27 – MI Farm Mentors – Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers Farm Tour – 1:30pm (Cedar)
Aug 27 – Virtual Organic Career Fair employer application form
Aug 28 – WCCD Field Day with Farmer Match & Mingle (Ann Arbor)

September

Sept 4 – Farmland Protection/Conservation – 11 a.m.-Noon ET (online)
Sept 8 – Living Soils Workshop – 4:30 – 7:30 (Ann Arbor)
Sept 10 – MI Farm Mentors - Of the Land Farm Tour – 10am (Calhoun County)
Sep 13 – Specialty Crop Field Day at Titus Farm (Leslie)
Sept 16 – Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day (Benton Harbor)
Sept 16 – Improve Your Farm Website (Without Starting Over)
Oct 4 - 6 – Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference (Bellaire, MI with Antrim County farm tour)

Ongoing Courses & Meetings

Food-grade grains online training
May 20 - Sept 16, Every 1st & 3rd Wednesday (May 20, June 3 & 17, July 1 & 15, Aug 5 & 19, Sep. 2 & 16) – DPFLI Pizza and Volunteer Nights (Detroit)
RAFI Farmers Connection Calendar of Events
Food Grade Grains 101 Course - Free, asynchronous online class from MIFFS
Complying with the Pre-Harvest Water Rule Short Course (With Certificate)
Online Course on Insects in the Garden (free)
Starting a School or Community Garden
MSU Cottage Food Law Course - free
Backyard Fruit 101 - $35
Grant Writing for Farm and Food Entrepreneurs - free
Pollinator Champions
Is Beekeeping Right for Me?
Local Food Marketing Academy
- Coupon Code for farmers to take the course for $200
Cottage Food Law, ServSafe, Farm to School and Food Safety Classes
Detroit Food Policy Council Meetings
Boost your farm or food business: Online grant writing course
Michigan Conservation Stewards Program
Communicating with Legislators - New Online Course
Forest School teacher trainings
Small grains shared learning calls – 1^st Fridays, 11-noon Eastern
Organic Farmer Circles for Black, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous, Asian, Queer and all farmers
Midwest Permaculture Design Courses ½ off for regenerative farmers, community growers, and others
Organic Farmers Association Crop Insurance workgroup
Cornell Small Farms online courses
TEAMs program is a training for farm apprentices or employees by the Fairshare CSA Coalition
Becoming the Employer of Choice training for farm employers by the Fairshare CSA Coalition
Free Self-Paced Online Class for Small-scale Chicken Farmers
Savanna Institute classes
Value Added Producer grant on demand class - $75
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)

Job Opportunities

Jobs at Farms

Entry Level Seasonal Farm Lead – Glenn Star Farm in Fennville, MI - email Glennstarfarm@gmail.com to apply (NEW)
Real Organic Project Midwest Regional Organizer and Inspector
The Bee & Egg (Clinton, MI) Livestock worker
Nature & Nurture Organic Landscape Gardener & Heirloom Seed Farm Assistant
Lake Divide Farm Crew Member – Stockbridge
Farm Worker with Circadian Grace Gardens and Wellness LLC, Jackson, MI – More information available on the Map of Michigan Sustainable Farm Jobs
Drew Farm Food Service Worker with farm responsibilities (Detroit)
Part-Time Garden Specialist at Chamomile Gardens (Detroit)
Keep Growing Detroit Internships
Henningson Farms - Cut flower farmworkers (Dewitt) see posting on Farm Jobs Map
Idlewild Farm - Full-time and Part-time flower crew positions (Belding)
Idyll Farms Assistant Creamery Manager (Northport)
Farm Hand for Regenerative Farm - Marcellus, MI – Part time or Full Time
- Contact Carolyn Armstrong at 708-205-6168 for information
Herdsperson job with Jennifer Hammond (Dowling)
Jacob's Fresh Farm (Dexter)
Silly Goose Acres (Plainwell)
Livestock Incubator Farm Program – Caledonia, IL
Manage the Giving Tree Farm as a farmer or farmworker
Map of Michigan Sustainable Farm Jobs or use this form to add your farm job
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
Helianthus Farms - see pay, benefits & other details on the farm jobs map or contact Karl Kaufman at 8102415240 or karlkaufman48@gmail.com
Asbury Farm (Flint) see job posting on map
Great Lakes Incubator Farm (Traverse City) see posting on map
Organic Vegetable Farm Manager Apprenticeship Program (Wisconsin, many locations
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
Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship(Several locations in Michigan)
Titus Farms (Mason, MI)
Employment Opportunities list from MIFFS (Michigan Food and Farming Systems)

Jobs at Michigan State University

Tollgate Farm Operations Assistant / Professional Aide apply by July 15 (Novi)
Tollgate Farm Educational Program Leader / Extension Program Worker apply by July 20 (Novi)
Professional Aide- Agriculture Research apply by July 27 (Alger)
Technical Aide for berry crops research
Flint Food Works Director – Production and Operations Manager (Genesee) Apply by Jul 28

Jobs at Michigan Non-profits/Other

Many Hands Lifesharing Community (Dexter) Farm Education and Production Manager $60K
Eastern Market (Detroit) jobs page Urban Ag Produce Share Assembly Team

National Jobs

Canopy Farm Management Job Openings (WI and IL)
Integrated Designer, Seed Savers Exchange (Iowa)
Executive Director, Foxhead Regenerative Agriculture Project (Wisconsin)
Organic Farming Research Foundation General Internships
Marbleseed Job Board
COMFOOD-Jobs listserv
Good Food Jobs
Ag Solidarity Network Job Listings
Sustainable Ag Coalition (NSAC) Jobs listing
American Farmland Trust – 5 jobs, hybrid or fully remote

Volunteer Opportunities

Organic Farmer Work Groups
Volunteer at D-Town farm in Detroit on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to Noon
Volunteer at Tollgate Farm: Tuesdays and Wednesday, contact Monique Mose at hemkermo@msu.edu
Allen Neighborhood Center Hunter Park GardenHouse (Lansing) volunteer on Mondays: 9:30am – noon or Thursdays: 5 – 7:30pm
We3Queens Botanical Garden – contact Anne Lynn at w3qoutreach@gmail.com

Farmland

Available farmland for sale, lease, or partnership listed on MI FarmLink

Southeast Michigan

Northern Lower Michigan

West Michigan

10 acres in Van Buren county for lease
76 acres in Kent County for lease, working arrangement with future partner
45 acres in Van Buren County for lease
40 acres in Allegan County for sale, mentorship
38 acres in Cass County for lease
20 acres in Berrien County for lease, partnership
36 acres in Kalamazoo County for lease
2 acres in Muskegon County for partnership, lease, working arrangement with future partner
24 acres in Kalamazoo for lease or mentorship
25 acres in Berrien County for lease, working arrangement with future partner
4 acres in Portage, MI for partnership or lease
90 acres in Zeeland, MI for partnership
Farm with orchard, forest and tillable land in Bangor seeks BIPOC farmers to farm on donated land using The Farmers' Land Trust collective land ownership model. Contact Julius Buzzard for more information at julius@growinghope.net
20 acres in Calhoun County for sale (Cinzori Farms)
78 acres for lease or partnership in Kalamazoo County
https://earthenheart.com/ affordable sustainable rental housing and ag land

Mid-Michigan

10 acres in Sanilac County for partnership, working arrangement with future partner (NEW)
80 acres in Bay County for sale (NEW)
3800 acres in Eaton County, Bellevue, Barry, Eaton Rapids for lease, lease to buy, working arrangement with future partner
15 acres in Saginaw County for lease or partnership
28 acres in Lake, MI for sale
105 acres in Bay County for sale
Manage the Giving Tree Farm as a farmer or farmworker
- Giving Tree Farm (Lansing) contact Bob Bower for more info givingtreeserv5644@att.net, 517 490-1396
40 acres in Chippewa Lake (Weber Farms)
33 acres in Barryton for Lease

Upper Peninsula

Out of State

40 acres organic farm land and house available for rent in Clayton, Wisconsin

Grants & Funding

Michigan's Emerging Farmers Conference Scholarships – For Northern MI Small Farms Conference, GLEXPO, etc. (NEW)
Organic Cost Share is now available for 2025 and 2026! (NEW)
Farm Aid Ag Funding Library for Ag professionals (NEW)
EQIP Bridge Loans, with 0% interest, apply here! (NEW)
Marbleseed Farmer Advancement Mini Grants $500 - $1000 for farm infrastructure, inputs, or labor -OR- $250 - $500 for travel/time at educational events (due July 31) for historically underserved farmers (BIPOC,new American farmers, beginning, limited resource, participants in the Marbleseed Mentorship Program, and Veteran farmers) (NEW)
Michigan Food & Farming Systems Staple Crops Program – Applications Open
USDA relief program for specialty crop farmers pays out up to $650/acre for vegetables, fruit and herbs - Apply online or at your FSA office by August 7
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) is now live!
Hey Helen Grant for women founders up to $10k
Healthy Food Access Grant - Max Award $100k
Michigan Women Forward Small Business Loans - Max Award: $50
Sponsored Certifications through Farmish – Produce Safety Alliance Certification or Certified Naturally Grown
Microloan Applications Now Open for NW Michigan Farmers - Crosshatch now accepting applications for 2026 microloan program
Greenstone Farm Cultivate Growth Grant
Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub: Spark and Innovation Collaboration Awards (new round in Oct 2026)
Black Farmer Rapid Response Fund
Black Farmers Learn
Farmer Self-Care Award

Additional Grant & Funding Resources

Produce Safety Technicians have cost-share available! If you are needing to implement a food-safe practice and need equipment, tools, infrastructure, etc. the Technicians are here for support! Find and contact your local Technician here.
Michigan SARE mini-grants of $2000 are now available for train-the-trainer to teach farm educators about sustainable agriculture
MSU Center for Regional Food Systems - Digital directory of 100+ funding opportunities
Boost your farm or food business: Online grant writing course
Detroit Legacy Business Project for businesses open 30 years or more
Grassroots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programs from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
MIFFS Funding & Grants list
Grants and Funding Opportunities from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)
Financial Incentives Database (FIND) Tool to compare farm conservation programs and funding options

Farmworker and immigration information

Farmer Resources

Organic Resources

Find Your Farm's Certification Match!- Self Assessment Tool to see if organic certification or another certification option is the best fit for you.
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!

Other Resources

Free Water Testing for Produce growers in Michigan
The Beginning Farmer Resource and Decision-Making Guide
"The Taproot Project" Podcast
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Listen on Spotify
Map of Michigan Beginning Farmer Resources
Farm Recordkeeping workbook with downloadable templates! + Event recording + Discussion notes
Northeast Crop Production Manual
Northeast Harvest Manual
Pivot Points Podcast
Free curricula for beginning farmers
Many Hats: A Food Hub Operators Toolkit
Production & Technical Resources Catalog
Farmer Resiliency & Mental Health Resources Catalog
Printable Farmer Resiliency & Health Resources Handout

Farmer Mental Health

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, Advocacy, & Other Info

Surveys

Oppose the current Farm Bill? Take action with RAFI (NEW)
OFRF’s National Organic Farmer Survey
- Survey: Have you experienced barriers to accessing farmland?
Urban Farm Website Survey
Survey for Lansing Urban Farmers
Survey on Economic Impacts of Regional Grainsheds
Beginning Farmer Resource & Decision Tool survey
Paid farmer & farmworker focus groups – fill out this survey for more info

Detroit Water Conservation Practices Survey for urban farmers
Midwest Vegetable Growers Network Looking for Farmers and Collaborators
Interview + Survey about climate smart growing ($90 visa gift card)

Advocacy

Advocate for Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems, Food Assistance and support for sustainable farmers in the Farm Bill:

Other Info

Develop a Heat and Air Quality Safety Plan for Your Farm Workers
"Staying Safe While Working in Conditions of Smoke and Fire"
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!
Donate food through the Michigan Agricultural Surplus Program
Washtenaw Tool Bank Collective
Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation Clearinghouse
Peer to Peer coaching program through Fairshare

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