In an exciting new project, Land For Good is empowering more farmland owners in the Commonwealth to make land available for farming through secure tenure or transfer of ownership. A multi-year project recently funded by the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture will expand work with farmers and farmland owners, who may include municipalities, land trusts, institutions, and private individuals. The land may be in active agriculture, formerly used, or suitable for agricultural use.
We are losing agricultural land and farms fast. Massachusetts lost 113,000 acres of farmland between 1997 and 2022 (Ag Census). That’s about 3.7 times the size of the land area of Boston, or 1.8 times the size of Martha’s Vineyard. According to American Farmland Trust’s Farms Under Threat 2040 Report, between 2016 and 2040, without additional investment and policy changes, Massachusetts is projected to lose 1,200 farms and 50,000 – 89,000 acres of farmland. The farmland that we do have is often inaccessible to farmers and aspiring farmers, primarily due to cost. Lack of farm transfer planning, unfavorable short-term leases, hand-shake agreements, and a lack of education limit farmland opportunities for farmers. Additionally, farms struggle to remain viable, and their tenuous financial sustainability increases the risk of farmland loss.
Land For Good’s work fills a critical role in securing farmland for current and future farmers in Massachusetts. Farmers have limited profit margins and resources to pay for support. This project will provide more education and technical services to farmers at no-cost. Funding for this project is provided by grant from The Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture. Founded in 1792, the Society has for over 200 years offered financial assistance to forward-looking individuals and enterprises committed to the cause of agriculture and agricultural land use in Massachusetts.
Partnering with agricultural commissions, land trusts, and others on this project, we’ll offer landowner workshops in different regions of the state. Our current partnerships with “buy local” organizations, land trusts, American Farmland Trust, and MDAR have been key to helping identify farmers’ needs on the ground. We’re working to reach different areas of the state with increased technical assistance and education specifically on farm transfer and succession planning. We’ll host these workshops in strategic locations where there are a critical mass of farms without succession plans.
This spring, we’re hosting free workshops to specifically help farmers plan for the future of their farm. Local organizations and resources will be available. Farmland owners, including farmers and non-farming landowner individuals and/or municipalities, organizations, or institutions, will hear from agricultural service providers in the region that can assist with farm transfer and succession planning. Speakers from Land For Good, American Farmland Trust, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, local land trusts, and more will discuss resources for estate planning, financial planning and grants, farmland conservation, farmland succession, and farm business succession. There will also be time for peer-to-peer learning and sharing – and dinner will be provided! Space is limited, so advance registration is required.
Spring workshop dates and locations:
Thursday, March 27, 2025
5:30-7:30 pm
Shelburne Grange Fellowship Hall, Shelburne, MA
Register now
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
6:00-8:00 pm
1870 Town Function Hall, Berlin, MA
Register now
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
5:30-7:30 pm
Bounti-Fare Restaurant, Adams, MA
Register now
These spring workshops are sponsored by:
