Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/2026/04/solar-farms-housing-projects-are-largest-threats-to-michigan-land-preservation/)
One of several pieces of land preserved by the Klein family sits in Ottawa County, Michigan. Photo courtesy of Rich Lakeberg.
LANSING, Mich.—Farmland in Michigan is facing increasing development pressure from housing, solar and other expansion projects. For rural farmland, large-scale solar projects often require hundreds to thousands of acres of land, meaning large areas of rural farmland are increasingly being considered for development. Meanwhile in urban and suburban areas, housing expansion is the primary concern for farm and green space preservation.
According to the Michigan Public Service Commission, Michigan utilities are expecting around 17,800 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030, a rapid expansion that increases development pressure for farmers. Additional pressures from two Michigan energy laws also require public utilities to achieve a renewable energy credit portfolio of 50% by 2030, causing utilities companies to look at various ways of expanding their renewable energy infrastructure.
While the loss of farmland has been an issue for decades, state leaders say that new types of development and growing populations are making preservation efforts more important. Local programs and partnerships are having to get creative to slow that loss and keep farmland in agricultural use.
Matthew Kapp, government relations specialist for Michigan Farm Bureau, said farmland today is competing with more than just housing developments.
“I hear more about farmland going into solar energy. I hear about farmland going into data centers,” Kapp said. “We didn’t have all that back in the ‘80s and ‘90s.”
Kapp said many preservation programs rely on local funding sources to qualify for state support, which can limit how many farms are protected. Even so, he said the programs that are funded have proven effective in preserving land once it is enrolled.
For urban and suburban farms and green spaces, development pressures are often driven by the demand for housing. Becky Huttenga, economic development coordinator for Ottawa County, said housing conversion remains one of the most consistent causes of farmland loss.
“One of the primary ways we lose farmland is conversion to housing,” Huttenga said. “Conversion to housing is always a huge threat.”
According to a 2024 statewide housing report by the University of Michigan, housing demands due to population growth are increasing in Michigan. However, significantly aging infrastructure and disrepair of the state’s current housing inventory are contributing to an increase in new housing developments, primarily for single-family homes.
However, Huttenga says that careful planning can reduce the impact of development by directing growth toward areas where already developed land can be reclaimed, such as brownfield sights, and farmland loss is lessened. She added that protecting high-quality soil and keeping farmland in large connected areas can maintain agricultural productivity in the long run.
“We’re seeing a lot of fragmentation happening in Michigan,” Brost said. “That’s making our family farm sizes smaller each year.”
Alongside planning efforts, statewide programs are also working to preserve farmland permanently. Elizabeth Brost, vice chair and treasurer of the Agricultural Preserve Boards of Michigan, said conservation easements and succession planning are two of the most important tools available to farmers.
Conservation easements allow landowners to permanently protect farmland from development while ensuring that their use is agricultural, helping to reduce pressures from housing and solar expansion projects. Succession planning works best when farmers start the process early on, creating a smooth transition that holds onto farmland rather than selling it upon ownership changes.
Brost said succession planning, which helps farmers to prepare for transferring land to the next generation, can prevent farmland from being sold or divided when its ownership changes. She said increasing partnerships between local governments, nonprofits and state agencies could expand preservation efforts in the future. Other government programs, like the Ingham County preservation Ingham County Farmland Open Space Preservation Board (FOSPB), can also help farmers preserve their land if they don’t have family to pass the land down to.
As Michigan continues to grow, leaders say preserving farmland will depend on a combination of funding, planning and community involvement. While development pressures are likely to continue increasing, programs already in place show that farmland loss can be slowed when communities invest in long-term solutions.
House legislation would update fee requirements and simplify regulations for composts, fertilizers and soil conditioners. It’s backed by the Michigan Recycling Coalition, Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association and Composting Council of Michigan. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has no position. Sponsors are from Clare, Quincy, Bay City and Delta Township. By Georgia Hill.
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Fibrous algae called Cladophora and microfibers with diatoms at 10x magnification. Credit: Valparaiso University and U.S. Geological Survey.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State University Student Biodome Project recently participated in Science Night at Bennett Woods Elementary School on Feb.
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