Michigan Department of Agriculture e Rural Development
07/17/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/17/2026 12:00
Gov. Whitmer Proclaims July 17 Conservation District Day
Proclamation recognizes 89 years of local conservation services for Michiganders
LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed July 17 Conservation District Day to honor the hard work and dedication of the conservation districts that provide local natural resource management assistance to farmers, landowners and communities throughout Michigan.
"Conservation districts helped our state and our country recover from the Dust Bowl that accompanied the Great Depression, and they've played an important role in protecting agriculture and the environment ever since," said Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring. "From helping farms implement regenerative practices that protect soil health to supporting landowners as they develop forest management plans, conservation districts are the boots on the ground that protect the natural resources we cherish."
Conservation District Day commemorates the 89th anniversary of Public Act 297 of 1937, which established Michigan's first Soil Conservation Districts. That law was enacted in response to the Dust Bowl, a period of severe drought and soil erosion that devastated U.S. agriculture in the 1930s.
Since 1937, the scope and responsibility of Michigan's conservation districts have grown far beyond the original focus of preventing agricultural soil erosion. Today, these local units of government contribute to important statewide agriculture and environmental initiatives including:
- The Regenerative Agriculture Program, which works with growers to implement sustainable farming methods that improve soil health and that make farms more resilient and profitable over the long-term
- The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, which provides technical assistance to farmers to reduce erosion and runoff and to protect our waterways
- The Conservation Technical Assistance Initiative, which provides conservation and engineering assistance to landowners
- The Forestry Assistance Program, which helps family forest owners manage their woodlots
- The Michigan Produce Safety Program, which works with growers to ensure the wellness of their customers
Earlier this year, MDARD awarded nearly $300,000 of regenerative agriculture and outreach grants to help conservation districts fund and organize events that promote the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices and that strengthen farmer-to-farmer networks. Michiganders can learn more about these events and sign up to attend by visiting MDARD's regenerative agriculture education and outreach events web page.
To learn more about Michigan conservation districts and their programs and services, visit the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts' website.
Michigan Department of Agriculture e Rural Development published this content on July 17, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 17, 2026 at 18:00 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]