There is no certified organic HAY and forage available for purchase within 200 miles of weinrich farm and very little available anywhere in michigan

Consequently producing organic beef lamb or goat is currently not an option for farms in the area. This project will upgrade and expand the HAY and forage making capacity of the weinrich farm LLC creating the only largescale organic producer of HAY and forage in northern michigan. Newer and better HAY and forage equipment will enable them to rapidly cut bale and transport making the business more efficient with existing organic transition pasture. IT will also allow them to bring hundreds more acres into organic production over three years. This equipment will kickstart a supply chain for organic grassfed ruminants in this region. The project will allow weinrich farm to transition their own ruminants to organic feed eventually enabling them to produce organic grassfed beef. IT will remove a barrier to organic certification for other local small farms who cannot currently access organic HAY and forage. This project will create new revenue streams for several existing organic vegetable farms in northern michigan that have underutilized pastures which could be used for organic HAY forage and straw. The project will also support the expansion of organic wheat in the area by enabling the production of forages as a profitable complement in a crop rotation.