Center for Regional Food Systems

In this Q & A with Jill Dohner, Director of MIFarmLink, she discusses how the program is linking farmers seeking to sell their property with people looking to start farming.

Farm land succession is an increasingly hot topic in agriculture and food systems circles. As of 2022, the average U.S. farmer was 58.1 years old. This increasing age, along with rising land prices and changes in tax policies, makes programs like MIFarmLink more important than ever.

In September 2026, Jamie Rahrig, Director of Food and Farm Business Assistance at Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, had a conversation with Jill to explore opportunities for farmers to sell and acquire land.

What is MIFarmLink?

Dohner: MIFarmLink is a nonprofit organization that seeks to secure Michigan's agricultural future by connecting beginning farmers with available farmland. We operate the state's only statewide land linking platform, helping match new and transitioning farmers with landowners who want to see their land continue in agriculture. Beyond land access, we provide mentorship, business planning support, and succession planning assistance by creating a comprehensive continuum of support that helps beginning farmers succeed and stay rooted in Michigan.

Tell us about your role at MIFarmLink!

Dohner: I oversee the entire statewide program, and because I'm a farmer myself, I bring that perspective to everything we do. I work with our team to facilitate matches between farmers and landowners. I also coordinate the support we provide: mentorship, business planning, and resources to help farmers through their land transition and get them set up for success. I work with our partners across the state, and make sure we're making the impact we set out to make in every region we serve.
What I love most about this work is that I get to speak with farmers every single day, and every story is different. Most landowners want to see their land continue on in agriculture, and most farmers are looking for that opportunity. That's what drives me—finding those connections and giving people the support they need to make it work.

Why is MIFarmLink important?

Dohner: Michigan is losing farmland and farmers at an alarming rate. Beginning farmers often face a critical barrier: they can't find affordable, available land. At the same time, many landowners want their property to remain in agriculture but don't know how to make that transition happen. MIFarmLink fills that gap. We're not just connecting people; we're preserving Michigan's agricultural heritage and creating pathways for a new generation of farmers to build viable, sustainable operations here.
Especially here in Michigan, with the 2nd most diversified crops in the nation and unique growing conditions that allow us to produce specialty fruits, this work is critical. Without land and farmers, we lose food security. We lose local food systems. We lose the institutional farming knowledge that takes generations to build. That's why MIFarmLink exists and why this work matters so much right now.

How can farmers find land?

Dohner: The easiest way to get started is to visit mifarmlink.org, where you can view available land across Michigan, create a profile, and connect with landowners looking for farmers. We're actively facilitating real relationships that lead to actual land transfers, not just listings.
We also host regional matchmaking events where farmers and landowners can meet face to face and really get to know each other. Beyond that, we have Land Transfer navigators to help guide farmers through the succession planning process, and we partner with Conservation Districts and our Regional Representatives to provide local support and connection. There's a wealth of resources available to help make those connections meaningful and sustainable.

What should farmers know before they reach out to MIFarmLink?

Dohner: We work with farmers at all stages, whether they're just beginning to explore farming, ready to lease or purchase land, or they're preparing to sell their land. The more prepared a farmer is, whether that means having a business plan, understanding their financial situation, or clarifying what type of farming operation they want to run, the better we can serve them. We're here to help with all of that, but coming in with some clarity about your vision is helpful.

How can organizations partner with MIFarmLink to help connect more farmers and farmland?

Dohner: We welcome partnerships with agricultural organizations, conservation groups, financial institutions, and others who share our mission. Partners can help in many ways: referring farmers or landowners to us, co-hosting events, providing specialized expertise (like financial planning or conservation advice), or supporting our work through funding or in-kind donations. We're always looking for collaborators who can expand our reach and deepen our impact.

Do you have a favorite success story for MIFarmLink?

Dohner: I have one that really stands out, I call it "farm on a platter." A few years ago, a farmer in southeast Michigan listed their operation on MIFarmLink. The owner had built a solid farm business: an established farm name, a CSA program, infrastructure with hoophouses and fencing but he wanted to diversify and move in a different direction. A young couple found the listing, and they were able to step right in and take over the farm operations. Because everything was already set up and running, they could focus their energy on growing and expanding the business rather than starting from scratch. It's a perfect example of what we're trying to make possible by connecting the right farmer with the right land at the right time, so both the farmer and the land can thrive.

Any final thoughts or words?

Dohner: I'm thrilled to announce that MIFarmLink has just been awarded a $750,000 Passing the Plow grant through the USDA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. This three-year award recognizes the critical work we're doing and allows us to expand to truly statewide operations. With this support, we'll be able to reach more beginning farmers, provide deeper mentorship, and help more Michigan farmland transition to the next generation of stewards. It's an exciting time for MIFarmLink and for Michigan agriculture.

Want to learn more about farmland succession and access? Follow MIFarmLink on social media and visit Michigan's Emerging Farmers resource page.

About Michigan’s Emerging Farmers 

Our statewide program aims to create pathways to growth and economic opportunity for all of Michigan’s agricultural producers, including small- to mid-sized farmers. This project is funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, in a cooperative agreement with members of the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, Michigan State University Extension, and Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS).

This work is supported by the American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Initiative program, project award no. 2023-70417-39233, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.

Michigan State University is an equal opportunity provider and employer; its programs and activities are open to all without regard to personal protected identity. In accordance with Federal law, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements, and MSU policy, discrimination in USDA-sponsored programs and activities is prohibited on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. More information about these and other civil rights protections at MSU is available in MSU’s Notice of Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment and Non-Retaliation. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the USDA and MSU Extension.