MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

N8030 TOWNLINE RD, EAST TROY, WI 53120-3500

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

RYAN MARTIN, PO BOX 990, EAST TROY, WI 53120

Signed the 990

RYAN MARTIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Phone

(262) 642-3303

Website

WWW.MICHAELFIELDS.ORG

Return prepared by

WEGNER CPAS LLP

Mission

MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS TO HELP RURAL AND URBAN FARMS AND AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES IN WISCONSIN AND BEYOND BE HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND SOCIALLY.

Program accomplishments

• EDUCATION - MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE'S EDUCATION PROGRAM FOCUSES ON OUTREACH FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH WORKSHOPS, EVENTS AND WEBINARS WHERE LEARNING HAPPENS WITH PROFESSIONALS OR IN A PEER-TO-PEER SETTING/MODEL. THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT MFAI INCLUDE WISCONSIN WOMEN IN CONSERVATION (WIWIC), MIDWEST GRAIN RESOURCES & IMMERSION TRAINING (MIDWEST GRIT), MILWAUKEE URBAN AG NETWORK (MUAN), SHARE, AND 2501. THESE PROGRAMS ARE ACTIVELY CREATING EVENTS IN THE EDUCATIONAL SPACE AND ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS IN ALL OF THIS PROGRAMMING. OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE STRENGTHENED BY PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER NON PROFITS IN THE AG SPACE, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH THE UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE REGION.THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT MAINLY FOCUSES ON OUTREACH FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH WORKSHOPS, EVENTS AND WEBINARS WHERE LEARNING HAPPENS WITH PROFESSIONALS OR IN A PEER-TO-PEER SETTING/MODEL. THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT MFAI INCLUDE WISCONSIN WOMEN IN CONSERVATION (WIWIC), MIDWEST GRAIN RESOURCES & IMMERSION TRAINING (MIDWEST GRIT), MILWAUKEE URBAN AG NETWORK (MUAN), SHARE, AND 2501. THESE PROGRAMS ARE ACTIVELY CREATING EVENTS IN THE EDUCATIONAL SPACE AND ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS IN ALL OF THIS PROGRAMMING. OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE STRENGTHENED BY PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER NONPROFITS IN THE AG SPACE, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH THE UNIVERSITIES IN THE MIDWEST. WIWIC PROGRAMMING (FUNDED BY USDA-NRCS) INCLUDES IN-PERSON EVENTS WHERE WOMEN ARE CONNECTED WITH RESOURCES, BOTH IN THE KNOWLEDGE AND FINANCIAL REALM, AND OTHER VIRTUAL WEBINARS WHERE LEARNING HAPPENS TO BE BETTER STEWARDS OF THE LAND. CONSERVATION AND SOIL HEALTH ARE TWO VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS THAT ARE DISCUSSED AT THESE OUTREACH EVENTS, ALONG WITH CONSERVATION PRACTICES LIKE ROTATIONAL GRAZING, FOREST MANAGEMENT, MANAGING INVASIVE SPECIES, PLANTING NATIVES, POLLINATORS AND PRAIRIE HABITATS. FIELD DAYS ARE AVENUES FOR THE STAKEHOLDERS TO SEE IN PERSON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES WHILE GETTING GUIDANCE ON HOW THEY CAN IMPLEMENT THOSE PRACTICES ON THEIR OWN FARMS. DEMONSTRATIONS ON SOIL HEALTH ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THESE EVENTS WHICH ARE CONDUCTED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF WISCONSIN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER NONPROFITS. OUR PROGRAMMING ALSO INVOLVES CONSERVATION EDUCATORS, AND THEY ARE PROVIDED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT EVERY YEAR THROUGH IN-PERSON EVENTS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE, AND VIRTUAL MEETS. THROUGH THE WIWIC PROGRAM, MORE THAN 3000 WOMEN WERE SERVED THROUGH EVENTS AND MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS. PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SERVICE OFFERED TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. WOMEN UTILIZED THIS SERVICE WITH SUCH INTEREST AND EASE, AND THE PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO HELP WRITE MORE THAN 100 CONSERVATION PLANS FOR WOMEN LANDOWNERS, 25% OF WHOM APPLIED FOR A FEDERAL COST SHARE PROGRAM (EQIP).MILWAUKEE URBAN AG NETWORK PROGRAMMING HELPS URBAN GARDENERS AND FARMERS IN MILWAUKEE UNDERSTAND AND LEARN ABOUT URBAN GARDENING, SOIL HEALTH, GRAIN FARMING, COMMUNITY BUILDING ORGANIZATIONS, FEDERAL AGENCIES LIKE NRCS AND FSA (USDA) THAT CAN PROVIDE COST SHARE FOR CONSERVATION PRACTICES, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING. REGENERATIVE AG PRACTICES THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO SOIL HEALTH ARE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THROUGH STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND SHARING. SHARE FARMER STAKEHOLDERS ALSO ARE PROVIDED SIMILAR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. A THREE-PART SERIES ON GRAIN FARMING ON A SMALL SCALE, A WORKSHOP ON EXTENDING THE GROWING SEASON, A SERIES ON SOIL HEALTH AND ANOTHER ON LAND ACCESS WERE SOME OF THE WORKSHOPS OFFERED. A SEED SWAP EVENT WAS ORGANIZED IN APRIL AND IS OUR WAY OF CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY IN EAST TROY PROMOTING NUTRITIOUS AND HEALTHY FOOD. MIDWEST GRIT (GRAINS RESOURCE IMMERSIVE TRAINING), AN MFAI EDUCATION PROGRAM IS A PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING MODEL THAT IS GRANT-FUNDED BY USDA BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER DEVELOPMENT (BFRDP), ENROLLED 30 BEGINNING FARMERS FOR ANNUAL (12 MONTH) EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN ITS SECOND YEAR. PARTICIPANTS GATHERED TWICE A MONTH FOR VIRTUAL TRAINING, AND IN-PERSON FIELD LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WERE DEVELOPED AND SHARED THROUGH REGIONAL PARTNERS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDED CURRICULUM ON FOOD GRADE GRAIN AGRONOMY, EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, FARM FINANCE, AND OTHER TOPICS. THE PROGRAM CATALYZED ADOPTION OF SMALL GRAINS PRODUCTION AMONG 10 PRODUCERS IN THE PROGRAM IN ITS FIRST YEAR AND HAS CONTRIBUTED TO COMMUNITY BUILDING AROUND DEVELOPMENT OF MIDWEST REGIONAL GRAINSHED, ENHANCING LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION AND MARKETING. ADDITIONAL REGIONAL RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND PARTNERSHIPS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED THROUGH BFRDP PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING WITH NON-PROFITS SUCH AS RENEWING THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE LAND CONNECTION, THE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT, CENTER FOR RURAL AFFAIRS, MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL ADVANCEMENT, AGRARIA CENTER FOR REGENERATIVE PRACTICE, AND MORE, WHICH STRENGTHENS REGIONAL FARMER-NETWORKS AND ACCESS TO FARMERS SUPPORT. 2501 "DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS FOR STAPLE CROPS" IS A NEW PROGRAM THAT SERVES URBAN AND RURAL FARMERS ALONG THE SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN FOODSHED, WHERE REGIONAL PARTNERS IN MILWAUKEE, CHICAGO AND DETROIT LEVERAGE THEIR LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS TO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT TO FARMERS TO UNDERSTAND AND PARTICIPATE IN FSA/USDA/NRCS PROGRAMS. VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AND LINGUISTICALLY RELEVANT RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IS LED BY MFAI, AND REGIONAL PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS CO-SUPPORT EACH OTHER TO UNDERSTAND THE BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND BRING TO MARKET CULTURALLY RELEVANT STAPLE CROPS AND PROVIDE LONG-TERM RESILIENCE PRACTICES TO FARMERS AND COMMUNITY FOOD ORGANIZATIONS. FIELD DAYS AT MFAI IS ANOTHER WAY OF OUTREACH TO THE FARMERS OF SE WISCONSIN WHERE WE SHOWCASE OUR RESEARCH AND ALSO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN NEW ALTERNATE CROPS THAT MFAI SCIENTISTS ARE CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON, SOIL SAMPLING, SOIL HEALTH, OUR POLICY AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES. WE TALK ABOUT LOCAL FOOD AND SERVE LOCAL FOOD IN ALL OUR EVENTS, THUS PROVIDING ANOTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPANTS ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL FOODS AND HOW GOING LOCAL HELPS REDUCE THE CARBON FOOTPRINT IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN. LAST YEAR, WE HAD ALMOST 50 PARTICIPANTS AT OUR FIELD DAY IN AUGUST, WHERE WE SHOWCASED ALL THE WORK WE DO.
  Expenses $1,419,656 · grants $699,793 · revenue $6,253
• RESEARCH - MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE'S RESEARCH PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ADVANCING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ALTERNATIVE CROPS; I.E., ANYTHING BUT CORN AND SOYBEANS. ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF OTHER CROPS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE EXTENSION OF CROP ROTATIONS IN THE UPPER MIDWEST REGION, MEETING THE GOALS OF DIVERSIFYING THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE, INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY AND SOIL HEALTH ON WORKING LANDS, FOSTERING INCREASED WILDLIFE, INSECT, AND MICROBIAL BIODIVERSITY ON OUR WORKING LANDS, AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PROVISION TO MIDWESTERN COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS ENHANCED WATER QUALITY AND SOIL CONSERVATION. BOTH GRANT-FUNDED AND FARM ENTERPRISE ACTIVITIES THAT SERVE AS INNOVATION PLATFORMS AND OUTREACH/DEMONSTRATION SITES FOR MIDWESTERN FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MAKE UP THE PROGRAM.MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE'S RESEARCH PROGRAM CONSISTS OF TWO FULL-TIME AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTS AND ONE FULL-TIME TECHNICIAN, AND OPERATES WITH A MISSION OF ADVANCING AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ALTERNATIVE CROPS, I.E., ANYTHING BUT CORN AND SOYBEANS. ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF OTHER CROPS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE EXTENSION OF CROP ROTATIONS IN THE UPPER MIDWEST REGION, MEETING THE GOALS OF DIVERSIFYING THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE, INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY AND SOIL HEALTH ON WORKING LANDS, FOSTERING INCREASED WILDLIFE, INSECT, AND MICROBIAL BIODIVERSITY ON OUR WORKING LANDS, AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PROVISION TO MIDWESTERN COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS ENHANCED WATER QUALITY AND SOIL CONSERVATION. BOTH GRANT-FUNDED AND FARM ENTERPRISE ACTIVITIES THAT SERVE AS INNOVATION PLATFORMS AND OUTREACH/DEMONSTRATION SITES FOR MIDWESTERN FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MAKE UP THE PROGRAM.THE RESEARCH PROGRAM CENTERS THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF CROP RESEARCH:KERNZA: THE KERNZA TRIALS ARE FUNDED THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND INCLUDE A FERTILITY AND A GENETICS X ENVIRONMENT X MANAGEMENT TRIAL, COMPRISING 156 PLOTS IN TOTAL. MFAI RESEARCHERS, THROUGH A COORDINATED EFFORT ACROSS 6 SITES IN THE MIDWEST, DEPLOY 10 FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT, 6 BREEDING LINES, TWO ROW SPACINGS, AND TWO LEGUME INTERCROPPING TREATMENTS, TO INVESTIGATE THESE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS' EFFECTS ON KERNZA GRAIN AND BIOMASS YIELDS, SOIL HEALTH PROPERTIES, AND STAND PRODUCTIVITY OVER TIME.HEMP: THE HEMP TRIALS ARE FUNDED THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND CONSIST OF A PLANTING DATE AND COVER CROP TRIAL THAT AIMS TO OPTIMIZE HEMP FIBER YIELDS THROUGH IDENTIFICATION OF THE OPTIMAL PLANTING TIME CONSIDERING GROWING DEGREE DAY ACCUMULATION AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS OF THE UPPER MIDWEST REGION. INVESTIGATIONS OF SPRING COVER CROP SPECIES THAT HEMP CAN BE PLANTED INTO, AND THAT WILL PERSIST ALONGSIDE HEMP THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, PURSUE AGROECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS THAT IMPROVE THE EFFECTS OF HEMP PRODUCTION ON SOIL HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY.MILLET: INTEREST IN MILLETS HAS APPEARED AMONG MIDWESTERN AGRICULTURALISTS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS DUE TO MILLETS' HEAT- AND DROUGHT-HARDINESS, AND VERSATILITY IN PLANTING OPTIONS DURING THE SUMMER. MFAI RESEARCHERS WERE KEY IN SPURRING THIS INTEREST AS OUR WORK STARTED IN 2021 AND HAS CONTINUED INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FORMAL FIELD TRIALS TODAY, FUNDED THROUGH THE SHARE COLLABORATIVE. WE ARE INVESTIGATING RELAY CROPPING OF MILLETS FOLLOWING SPRING COVER CROPS AND PLANTING DATE EFFECTS ON YIELD.OATS: BEHIND WHEAT, OATS ARE OFTEN POINTED TO AS THE MOST VIABLE OPTION FOR "THIRD CROPPING" (THAT IS, GROWING A THIRD CROP IN ROTATION WITH CORN AND SOYBEAN) BECAUSE THEY CAN BE SOLD INTO FEED MARKETS IN MOST AREAS. HISTORICALLY, OATS HAVE BEEN GROWN IN MIDWEST FARM ROTATIONS SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF FARMING IN THE REGION, PERSISTING AS A PRACTICE FOR WELL OVER A CENTURY, THOUGH ACREAGE IS MUCH DIMINISHED DUE TO THE ECONOMIC DOMINANCE OF CORN AND SOYBEANS. FARMERS ALSO REPORT OATS' BENEFITS ON SOIL FERTILITY AND TILTH, ALTHOUGH THESE REPORTS HAVE NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED SCIENTIFICALLY. AS PART OF A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT PROJECT, MFAI RESEARCHERS ARE IMPLEMENTING OAT VARIETY TRIALS IN ORGANIC, NO-TILL ENVIRONMENTS, WITH THE GOALS OF A) PRODUCING VARIETY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ORGANIC FARMERS, FROM TRIALS PERFORMED IN LONG-TIME ORGANIC ENVIRONMENTS (ALL VARIETY TESTING INFORMATION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE WAS GENERATED ON CONVENTIONAL FARMS); AND B) ESTABLISHING OATS USING NO-TILL METHODS IN AN ORGANIC SYSTEM, TO ENABLE EARLIER PLANTING, MINIMIZE SOIL DISTURBANCE, AND INCREASE FEASIBILITY OF INCORPORATION INTO MIDWEST FARM SYSTEMS IN THE SPRING.BUCKWHEAT: BUCKWHEAT IS ANOTHER CROP POPULAR AMONG FARMERS FOR ITS SUMMER PLANTING VERSATILITY AND ABILITY TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND FERTILITY, BUT VERY FEW FOOD-GRADE VARIETIES ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, AND LITTLE INFORMATION EXISTS TO SUPPORT FARMERS HARVESTING BUCKWHEAT FOR GRAIN RATHER THAN USE AS SOLELY A COVER CROP. MFAI RESEARCHERS ARE IMPLEMENTING BUCKWHEAT VARIETY TRIALS AS PART OF A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT PROJECT TO DEMONSTRATE ATTRIBUTES OF DIFFERENT BUCKWHEAT VARIETIES OBTAINED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES THROUGHOUT THE U.S., AS WELL AS TO DEMONSTRATE THE YIELD AND QUALITY POTENTIAL OF CURRENT BUCKWHEAT VARIETIES GROWN FOR FOOD.IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE RESEARCH TRIALS, THE RESEARCH PROGRAM ALSO FEATURES AN ORGANIC FLOUR ENTERPRISE WHERE FOOD-GRADE VARIETIES OF RYE, WHEAT, AND OATS ARE PLANTED ON OUR RESEARCH FARM AS TRAINING SITES FOR FARMERS INTERESTED IN FOOD-GRADE SMALL GRAIN PRODUCTION. GROWERS ARE TRAINED IN ALL ASPECTS OF FOOD GRADE GRAIN PRODUCTION, INCLUDING ESTABLISHMENT, WEED AND FERTILITY MANAGEMENT, HARVESTING, POST-HARVEST HANDLING, AND PROCESSING. OUR HARVESTED ORGANIC GRAINS ARE USED TO DEMONSTRATE SEED CLEANING AND MILLING PROCESSES, AND TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW FLOUR IS PRODUCED, AND THE NUTRITIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENT PROCESSING TECHNIQUES. MFAI RESEARCHERS ALSO PERFORM FIELD SERVICE ACTIVITIES FOR AREA FARMERS WITH OUR EQUIPMENT FLEET, INCLUDING TILLAGE, PLANTING, AND HARVESTING, UPON REQUEST.
  Expenses $384,617 · grants $8,969 · revenue $13,441
• PUBLIC POLICY - MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE'S POLICY PROGRAM WORK TURNS FARMER EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH EVIDENCE INTO SYSTEMS CHANGE. OUR APPROACH IS GROUNDED IN COLLABORATIONWITH FARMERS, GRASSROOTS GROUPS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONSTO ENSURE THAT POLICIES REFLECT THE REALITIES OF THOSE WORKING THE LAND. WE ORGANIZE COALITIONS ACROSS REGENERATIVE SUBGROUPS ALREADY ENGAGED THROUGH OUR EDUCATION NETWORK, FROM WOMEN FARMERS AND URBAN GROWERS TO SMALL GRAINS PRODUCERS. BY LINKING THESE COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY TO THE POLICY PROCESS, WE ELEVATE GRASSROOTS PRIORITIES INTO STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS. THE TEAM ALSO CONFRONTS THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN POLITICS BY ADVANCING POLITICAL EDUCATION, STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE, AND PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY. WORKING CLOSELY WITH MFAI'S RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAMS, POLICY EFFORTS USE DATA TO BACK FARMER STORIES, EVALUATE FEDERAL PROGRAMS, AND CRAFT EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS. THROUGH CAMPAIGNS AND STORYTELLING, WE BUILD PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURETURNING LOCAL INSIGHT INTO COLLECTIVE POWER.AMONG MFAI'S PUBLIC POLICY ACTIVITIES, WE EDUCATED FARMERS AND OTHERS ABOUT THE FARM BILL POLICY PROCESS, GIVING FOUR TALKS ABOUT THE FARM BILL; COORDINATED UPLANDS WATERSHED GROUP IN SW WI, HOLDING 2 IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND 2 FIELD DAYS ON ORGANIC GRAIN FARM SYSTEMS AND PASTURE MANAGEMENT. CONDUCTED WORKSHOPS ON GRANT-WRITING AND USING FEDERAL & STATE PROGRAMS; DISTRIBUTED OUR GUIDE TO FEDERAL PROGRAMS SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE; PROVIDED FREE GRANTS ADVISING TO MORE THAN 40 FARMERS AND OTHER POTENTIAL GRANT APPLICANTS; CONVENED A NATIONAL GROUP TO ASSESS SOCIETAL BENEFITS FROM SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES, HELPED GUIDE THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF A FIVE-YEAR SOIL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE PROJECT (NOW CALLED THE SOIL HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT (SHARE)); ADDED A GROUP TO THE MIDWEST FARMERS OF COLOR SOIL HEALTH NETWORK SUPPORTING 6 BIPOC-LED GROUPS THAT HELP BEGINNING BIPOC FARMERS USE SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES IN STARTING FARMING ENTERPRISES; CONTINUED OUR COVER CROPS CITIZEN SCIENCE RESEARCH COLLABORATION IN WISCONSIN; LAUNCHED THE MILWAUKEE URBAN AGRICULTURE NETWORK; MONITORED AND SUPPORTED SUCCESSFUL WI STARTUP OF A PROGRAM WE HAD HELPED CREATE TO INCREASE COVER CROPS ADOPTION; LED FUNDING CAMPAIGN FOR FEDERAL GRAZING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WORKED WITH USDA ON ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORTED OUTREACH ON THAT PROGRAM; PARTICIPATED IN GRASSLAND PROJECT INCLUDING COORDINATING A "LEARNING HUB" WITHIN SW WI WITH WHICH WE CREATED PROGRAMMING TO ENLIST LENDERS IN GRAZING OUTREACH AND HELPED SUPPORT PROGRAMMING TO INCREASE MEAT PROCESSING IN SW WISCONSIN; ADVANCED FARM BILL PROVISIONS THAT SUPPORT MANAGED GRAZING, COVER CROPS, RACIAL EQUITY, AND IMPROVED CONSERVATION, COVER CROPS, AND CREDIT POLICIES; CO-CHAIRED CONSERVATION COMMITTEE ON GOVERNING BODY OF FEDERAL COALITION SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE POLICY; CO-LED STEERING COMMITTEE FOR NATIONAL COALITION ON SOIL HEATH POLICY; CHAIRED NC-SARE'S HERO AWARDS PROGRAM; COLLABORATED TO DEVELOP NEW STRUCTURES TO INCREASE PRIVATE & PUBLIC FUNDS SUPPORTING REGENERATIVE FARMING PRACTICES; DEVELOPED POSSIBILITIES FOR THE WI DNR TO USE ITS CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND FOR NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION PREVENTION; ORGANIZED WI COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING GRAZING; INVESTIGATED VARIOUS ISSUES RELATED TO THE SOCIETAL BENEFITS OF SOIL HEALTH, INCLUDING PERENNIAL SYSTEMS AND WHAT NON-USDA FEDERAL AGENCIES COULD DO TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOIL HEALTH; PRESENTED RESULTS FROM FOCUS GROUP RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN 2022 IDENTIFYING DRIVERS AND CONSTRAINTS TO ADOPTION OF DIVERSE PERENNIAL SYSTEMS; ADVOCATED FOR A STATE BILL TO SUPPORT FARMERS' TRANSITION TO MANAGED GRAZING SYSTEMS; AND SUPPORTED WORK TO ADVANCE PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY (PACE) FUNDING'S BEING APPLIED TO AGROFORESTRY AND GRAZING PRACTICES IN WISCONSIN.
  Expenses $240,759 · grants $24,436 · revenue $41,597
• FOOD AND FARMING SYSTEMS - THE INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS PROGRAM IS A MODEL FARM BUSINESS ENTERPRISE THAT PRODUCES AND MARKETS PERENNIAL GRAINS. THROUGH THIS MODEL BUSINESS, MFAI AGGREGATES, CLEANS, AND MARKETS GRAIN WHILE GENERATING REAL-WORLD DATA ON PRODUCTION COSTS, LOGISTICS, AND BUYER REQUIREMENTS. THESE OPERATIONS INFORM OUR BROADER RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND POLICY WORK BY IDENTIFYING BARRIERS TO ENTRYSUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS, FINANCING LIMITATIONS, AND POLICY MISALIGNMENTAND BY DEMONSTRATING PRACTICAL PATHWAYS FOR PERENNIAL GRAIN ADOPTION. THE PROGRAM ADVANCES MFAI'S MISSION TO BUILD RESILIENT, REGENERATIVE, AND ECONOMICALLY VIABLE FARMING SYSTEMS WHILE SUPPORTING FARMER INCOME DIVERSIFICATION AND REGIONAL CLIMATE GOALS.THE INSTITUTE'S FARMING SYSTEMS ACTIVITIES INCLUDED VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS, COVER CROP & SMALL GRAINS FIELD DAYS. FARM AND RESEARCH FIELD DAYS TOOK PLACE AS PART OF THE INSTITUTE'S RESEARCH AND POLICY PROGRAM WORK. TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS AND SOLUTIONS TO ENABLE PRODUCTION OF HEALTHY FOOD WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CHEMICALS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, WHILE MAXIMIZING THE QUALITY OF FOOD PRODUCTS AND RURAL LIVELIHOODS IS KEY INFORMATION MFAI INCORPORATES IN DISCUSSIONS. INCLUDED IN THE RESEARCH PROGRAM IS WORK FOR THE CCROP PROJECT, WHERE WARM-SEASON ANNUAL COVER CROP SPECIES AND MIXES WERE FORMALLY TRIALED ON MFAI RESEARCH GROUND. FOUR COVER CROP SPECIES AND SEVERAL COMBINATIONS OF SPECIES WERE PLANTED AND EVALUATED FOR BIOMASS PRODUCTION, FORAGE QUALITY, AND SOIL HEALTH IMPACTS, AND COMPARED WITH A NO SUMMER COVER (SUMMER FALLOW), IN THREE REPS OVER 2 YEARS. THE COVER CROP YEAR WAS FOLLOWED BY WHEAT IN ROTATION TO ASSESS CARRYOVER ROTATION EFFECTS OF SUMMER COVER CROPPING. FIELD WORK AND DATA COLLECTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED, AND RESULTS WILL BE COMPILED INTO A GROWER OUTREACH DOCUMENT AND A PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLE. THE RESEARCH PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES A KERNZA-CAP FUNDED PROJECT EVALUATING DIFFERENT FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR KERNZA, A NEW PERENNIAL GRAIN CROP. THE KERNZA WORK ALSO INCLUDES A VARIETY TRIALS. KERNZA WAS ESTABLISHED IN FALL 2021, WITH 26 TREATMENTS TOTAL BEING EVALUATED IN 8 REPLICATES. THIS WORK IS PART OF A NATIONWIDE COLLABORATION WITH OVER 20 DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 2026.
  Expenses $22,344 · revenue $18,672

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

39-1449246

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

School

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1984

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Food, agriculture and nutrition (K20P)

Assets (IRS master file)

$3,483,758

Income (IRS master file)

$2,681,459

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 39-1449246).

Questions about MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC

What is the EIN of MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC?

The employer identification number (EIN) of MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC is 39-1449246.

Is MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1984.

Are donations to MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.

Who is the principal officer of MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names RYAN MARTIN.

Who are the officers and directors of MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 8 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $95,000 (RYAN MARTIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).

How much revenue does MICHAEL FIELDS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE INC have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $2,533,841, expenses of $2,461,248 and total assets of $3,483,758 at year end.

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