The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is establishing the Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program at Michigan State University.
MSU AgBioResearch Director George Smith tells Brownfield the initiative is a collaboration with the state’s major plant commodity organizations to address climate and water issues.
“These are long-term projects,” he says. “We can’t solve these problems in one year. What’s going to be critical to success is that there is recurring funding from the state of Michigan.”
The state’s 2024 fiscal year budget includes $1 million in recurring funds for faculty and Extension positions, as well as a one-time $5 million investment for a competitive grants program.
