The partnership among MSU, the Michigan Plant Coalition, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will fund four new projects.

Four new research and outreach projects have been funded with $5.1 million through the Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program, a partnership among Michigan State University, the Michigan Plant Coalition, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The program, which began in 2024 and is administered by MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension, was created to address long-term climate- and water-related challenges in plant agriculture.

Each project is funded for three years at $1.275 million. Broadly, research explores efficient use of water, protection of water resources, plant and soil health, and carbon sequestration.

"Supporting Michigan's agricultural resilience is a top priority for MDARD, and thanks to Gov. Whitmer’s bipartisan budget, we are able to fund innovative projects that tackle critical challenges facing our industry," said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "These initiatives will provide practical solutions to help farmers adapt and find success not only today but for future generations of farmers and families."

In the program’s first year of 2024, four projects were funded and will continue this year.

For 2025, a panel consisting of representatives from MSU, the Michigan Plant Coalition and MDARD reviewed 18 proposals before selecting the awardees.

“The first two years of proposals have been extremely impressive, and it’s important that the initial research through the Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program sets the tone for the initiative to deliver practical solutions for Michigan’s growers,” said George Smith, director of MSU AgBioResearch. “We’re excited that the topics our researchers are addressing will help solve some of the major long-term challenges facing plant agriculture in our state.”

The four funded projects for 2025:

• Cropping systems that are resilient to the effects of severe weather, pests and diseases are more essential than ever. Researchers are developing a modeling platform that will equip farmers, as well as food producers and government agencies, with data and predictions to inform management practices. The goal is to increase the probability of positive economic, environmental and social impacts of farming decisions through efficient use of inputs. The principal investigator is Bruno Basso, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in the departments of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, as well as the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station.
• Solutions to farming challenges that are adaptable yet profitable for growers are increasingly needed. MSU scientists are creating an artificial intelligence-based forecasting platform for four major agricultural production systems in the southern portion of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula: corn, potatoes, soybeans and wheat. The goal is to provide high-quality information to farmers and land managers to formulate solutions-oriented strategies to increase resiliency. The principal investigator is Jiquan Chen, a professor in the Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences.
• Nutrient runoff from agriculture is one of the primary contributors to harmful algal growth in Michigan’s waterbodies. Working with corn and soybean growers, researchers will develop leading-edge tools to prevent nutrient loss and lessen the environmental consequences. The project will include water quality monitoring, demonstration of nutrient-capturing technology, evaluating conservation practices for water quality and soil carbon sequestration, quantifying socioeconomic benefits of conservation practices, and development of a decision-support tool for farmers. The principal investigator is Subhasis Giri, an assistant professor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
• Given weather variability such as increased precipitation or long droughts, there is mounting uncertainty and risks for growers. Current responses to these challenges may strain water resources. Using modeling approaches that simulate the impacts of various practices under projected climate scenarios, researchers are seeking to quantify and predict how regenerative agriculture can enhance soil health and hydrological function. Objectives of the project include determining the potential for regenerative practices to increase soil water-holding capacity, improving soil nutrient cycling, recharging aquifers, reducing surface runoff and retaining soil and nutrients on the land. The principal investigator is Jeremiah Asher, assistant director of the MSU Institute of Water Research.

For each of these projects, research and outreach are paired to deliver results directly to Michigan’s growers and partner agencies.

“Strong partnerships with agricultural industries and growers are the backbone of our work through MSU Extension,” said Quentin Tyler, director of MSU Extension. “The outreach component of the Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program is built on these partnerships, and we’re proud to work with growers to help implement research-based recommendations.”

This story was originally featured on Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program website.