Michael Happ

Michael Happ is the program associate for climate and rural communities at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Through policy advocacy, coalition work and research, Michael works to ensure that the agriculture sector responds to the climate crisis and mitigates its worst effects. Michael’s work focuses on state and federal greenhouse gas regulations, farmer-focused incentive programs and innovations in existing practices such as grazing and cover cropping.  

Michael previously worked at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, where he focused on federal policy related to improving on-farm conservation and was an author of the 2020 Farmers’ Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program. He also has experience working with the National Wildlife Federation and former Representative Tim Walz.

Michael holds a B.A. in Political Science from Carleton College, where he received distinction for his senior thesis on racism’s impacts on the economic perceptions of Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Detroit. Michael was raised on a farm near Mendota, Illinois where his family still raises row crops and Hereford cattle.