Horticulture Fund Grant
Horticulture Fund Grant supports Michigan’s nursery and ornamental horticulture industry through research, training, and outreach that protect plants and plant products from unwanted pests.
This grant was recently updated
The FY 2027 cycle replaces FY 2026, moving the proposal deadline from November 21, 2025 to November 20, 2026. Award notifications shift to the week of May 1, 2027; project initiation moves to June 1, 2027, and termination to June 30, 2028—each one year later.
Funder: Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Due Dates: November 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (Proposals) | Week of May 1, 2027 (Award notification) | June 1, 2027 (Project start) | June 30, 2028 (Project end)
Funding Amounts: Up to $20,000 annually per approved proposal; approximately $40,000 available for FY 2027
Summary: Supports research, training, and outreach that protect plants from unwanted pests and benefit Michigan’s nursery and ornamental horticulture industry.
Key Information: A university or college faculty or staff member must serve as principal investigator.
Description
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) administers this competitive program to support research projects, improve training programs, and develop outreach materials that safeguard plants and plant products from unwanted plant pests. FY 2027 proposals must benefit Michigan’s nursery and ornamental horticulture sectors, address industry priorities, and clearly explain how the activities will enhance the industry.
Funding supports applied research, basic research, and outreach, training, or demonstration projects. Applied research receives greater priority than basic research. Projects should complement rather than replace ongoing programs, or help explore new ventures, and must deliver clearly defined results within a realistic timeframe. The Michigan Legislature established the fund in 2003 through a revision to The Insect Pests and Plant Diseases Act; increased nursery license fees provide its annual resources.
