Michigan Struggles to Save Disappearing Farmland

State programs lag behind other states in preserving agricultural land as developers offer high prices to farmers

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Michigan farmers face intense pressure to sell their land as developers offer lucrative payouts, while state programs struggle to help keep farms intact. Since 2012, 5% of Michigan farmland has disappeared, with the state ranking 22nd among 29 states with permanent farmland protection programs in spending on a per-farm basis. Experts say state and federal policies are needed to make farming more profitable and stem the tide of farmland loss, especially in the state's fruit-growing regions.

Why it matters

The loss of farmland in Michigan has significant implications for the state's $126 billion agriculture industry, food security, and national security. Preserving local food production is crucial, but Michigan lags behind other states in funding programs to protect farmland from development pressure.

The details

Michigan farmers like Carl Druskovich face constant offers from developers to buy their land for as much as $20,000 per acre, tempting them to sell despite wanting to keep the land in agriculture. Since 2012, the state has lost over 6,600 farms covering nearly 500,000 acres, with the west Michigan "fruit belt" region being hit especially hard. While Michigan has a temporary farmland preservation program, it only requires 10-year commitments, and the state's $1.9 million annual budget for permanent protection is dwarfed by other states like Delaware, which has spent 10 times as much over the past three decades.

  • From 2012 to 2022, Michigan has lost 6,600 farms covering nearly 500,000 acres of farmland.
  • Between 2001 and 2021, 1.6 million acres of farmland have disappeared across the Midwest.

The players

Carl Druskovich

A seventh-generation southwest Michigan fruit farmer who still has to work full-time as a dentist to make ends meet, but wants to preserve his 400 acres so his godson can farm it after him.

Nikki Rothwell

A Michigan State University Extension specialist and coordinator at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center who says "It's all about money" when it comes to farmers facing pressure to sell their land.

Becky Huttenga

The agriculture and economic resources coordinator for Ottawa County, who says "Michigan as a whole has not embraced permanent protection of farmland as well as states out east and on the West Coast."

Lisa Ransler

The community services director for Van Buren County, where the county Land Preservation Board has "really upped its game over the last couple of years" to try to save farmland.

Sue Boomgaard-Rasch

An Ottawa County fruit farmer who is working to preserve 80 acres of her 300-acre farm, noting that "Once the ground has had concrete and drainfields and wells dug into it, it's really not compatible with agriculture."

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I can see why some people are just saying 'forget it,'”

— Carl Druskovich, Fruit Farmer (cbsnews.com)

“Growth is inevitable but sprawl is optional, and communities need to plan how they want to see their future.”

— Lisa Ransler, Community Services Director, Van Buren County (cbsnews.com)

“I hear from my guys all the time, they say, 'Nikki, it's not very fun to farm anymore,'”

— Nikki Rothwell, Michigan State University Extension Specialist (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Van Buren County Land Preservation Board has asked the state to help fund the preservation of two additional farms, including Carl Druskovich's Decatur fruit farm, through the state's purchase of development rights program.

The takeaway

Michigan's struggle to save its disappearing farmland highlights the need for stronger state and federal policies to support farmers and make farming a more viable and profitable enterprise. Without concerted efforts to preserve agricultural land, the state risks losing its vibrant fruit-growing regions and local food production capacity, with broader implications for food security and the state's economy.