Category: Resources
Support for farm succession planning & land access in the Berkshires
Berkshire County, Massachusetts has a rich history of agriculture. Today it supports a huge diversity of farms from large, multi-generational dairy farms to small, urban vegetable operations, as well as farmers markets, farm stands, and many farm-focused events. But conditions in Berkshire County call for increased attention to farmland access and transfer. An aging farmer […]
Cooperative farming & accessing farmland together
Access to land remains a top challenge for all farmers. Group farmland access can solve some land access obstacles and offer multiple benefits. Many farmers are exploring ways to farm collectively. This can allow farmers to share resources, assets, knowledge, skills, equipment, labor—and the expense of land. Farmers face common challenges. By working together, in […]
Acquire your own farm with some helpful training
This winter we launched Acquiring Your Farm, a training series for new and beginning farmers to help identify goals and set financial parameters, review pros and cons of owning versus leasing, conduct a land search, assess farm properties, discover keys to successful communication, and more. It provides a thorough introduction to the complex issues of […]
Winter sessions offer help with farm succession planning
Most farmers we work with want their land to stay in agriculture; the legacy of the land is often a cherished value. But few farm families have plans in place that articulate who their successor is and exactly how the land, equipment, business, and other assets will be divided among heirs and farm successors. In […]
More resources available when & where farmers really need it
Last year’s market disruptions created crises and opportunities for farmers. Some farmers struggled to keep their businesses afloat, others had banner years, and some were forced to consider retirement. All farmers had to adapt quickly to new realities and demand. We continue to help more farmers find, secure, and transfer farmland across New England. This […]
Legal risk management strategies around land issues for the agricultural community
We’re pleased to partner with Farm Commons, a national leader on legal assistance to farmers, as part of our effort to strengthen farmer and farm business resiliency through professional education. Farm Commons is a nonprofit membership organization providing farmers with the proactive legal counsel they need to become the resilient base of a healthy food […]
Helping keep Vermont’s farmland in active farming
It is estimated as many as 300 Vermont farms may change hands over the next five years as farmers scale back and transition from farming. At the same time, affordable access to farmland is a serious barrier for new farmers or those seeking to grow and expand their business. And, farmland that could be accessed […]
NH town’s agricultural commission helping connect farmers with land
New Hampshire agriculture is in the midst of a renaissance with older farmers looking to transfer their farm to another generation of farmers, young people graduating from sustainable agriculture programs and looking for land to farm, and non-farmers purchasing abandoned farms with the idea of buying protection from development and wanting to promote open space. […]
FaithLands partnerships between farmers, faith communities & food systems
Faith communities are a significant and unique type of agricultural landowner. Several religious organizations contact us with interest in making their land available for agricultural purposes and seek guidance on where to begin. So we are excited to support the FaithLands initiative and learning community to create specialized land access resources. FaithLands envisions a world […]
Farm succession training for professionals who serve farmers scheduled for September 2021
Over 10,000 New England farmers are likely to exit farming in the next decade. Most lack adequate succession plans. Farmers need skilled and knowledgeable technical advisors who can work as a team to support and guide the complex planning process. This fall we’re planning a unique training on the legal, business and financial aspects of […]
Free webinar series on farm succession planning begins March 16th
Each winter we host 20-30 senior generation farmers from across New England at a Farm Succession School. The school provides structured and sustained support to help farmers make decisions, engage their families, and organize the legal and financial considerations of the farm succession planning process. This year we’re taking the classroom virtual, amid the pandemic, with a […]
USDA temporarily suspends payments under Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) website was updated last week, on January 27th, with a new message for producers: the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Additional Assistance payments will be halted until further notice. The message stated, “In accordance with the White House memo, Regulatory Freeze Pending Review, USDA has suspended the processing and payments […]
