LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Michigan DNR has collaborated with Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), offering a start-up program to inspect landscaping producers for invasive species.
On Thursday, a ‘NotMISpecies’ webinar was held, titled ‘Hold the Invasives, Please!’ to explain and promote its goals. The new initiative aims to respond to the heightened activity of invasives in our Michigan products, soon being launched in early 2026.
Producers of landscaping products such as mulch, gravel, compost, and firewood are encouraged to look into the program, where MDARD employees would perform a full scale annual inspection across a requested property.
Vicki Sawicki is an Invasive Species Prevention Coordinator with the Michigan DNR, and is the acting coordinator for the program.
“We’re hoping that producers will want to participate in the program and see the value in it, and that consumers will see the value in that better product” she said.
The program will be volunteer based and is not necessarily required, but in its first two pilot years, the professional inspections will be free of charge.
Producers who complete a successful inspection would receive official labeling from the state, certifying to consumers that the product is invasive-free. If invasives are found, further removal and separation processes would be implemented.
Sawicki says this aims to provide more retail opportunities for producers involved.
“One obvious advantage in this is that producers who get in early will be able to sell that superior product with the premium price that consumers have expressed they are willing to pay,” she said.
After marketing and promotions, MDARD is in it’s final steps of preparation. Those interested in the statewide program can reach out to Sawicki (SawickiV1@Michigan.gov) or local Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs).
