(LANSING) - Michigan has lost more than 6,600 farms over the past 13 years, according to research from the Farmland Information Center.
Rising land prices tied to housing development, solar projects, and data centers are making it harder for farmers to keep their land in production.
State lawmakers have set aside $1.9 million this year for local governments to purchase farmland development rights, but experts say the funding falls well below market demand.
West Michigan has seen some of the largest losses. Ottawa and Van Buren counties alone lost more than 85,000 acres of farmland between 2012 and 2022.
Michigan's agriculture industry contributes about $126 billion annually to the state economy, and experts warn continued farmland losses could affect both rural communities and long-term food production.