Blog

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 […]

Rachel Brice, a life-long gardener and sometimes farm worker with a passion for small farms and local food systems, has joined our team as the new Program Coordinator. She will directly assist farmers and landowners with a focus in northern New England and support region-wide program development and delivery.  Rachel will represent LFG across New […]

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 […]

In working to build a thriving family farm-centered system of agriculture, Farm Aid also funds family farm and rural service organizations through an annual grant program. Farm Aid announced that it distributed nearly a million dollars in grant funding in 2021. In December 2021, Farm Aid granted $817,500 to 86 family farm, rural service and […]

In our polarized political climate, it’s heartening to know that some policymakers are working together on climate issues. The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a Washington, DC-based think tank that looks to promote policy ideas from both parties to advance “health, security and opportunity for all Americans.” BPC’s Farm and Forest Carbon Solutions Task Force […]

For retiring farmers, a farm transfer can take months, even years, to plan and complete. The transfer of John and Beth Haynes’ organic dairy farm took nearly seven years. Top: Haynes Dairy Farm located on Moody Hill in Claremont NH; 3rd generation dairy farmer John Haynes; new farmers Morgan and Baird Swift, and their son, […]

NH Association of Conservation Districts has announced it’s next grant round of the NH Farm Future Fund. The 2022 application cycle has opened! The mission of the NH Farm Future Fund is to provide funding for farm viability planning in concert with the conservation of important agricultural soils. This program will leverage the opportunity of […]

Massachusetts Action Alert: This week the Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee is drafting their version of the spending bill that will determine how federal Covid relief dollars will be spent in Massachusetts. We believe that the House bill could be improved upon so that relief funds do more to support our hard-hit food and farming […]

This year’s National Farm Viability Conference, hosted by Oregon Tilth and Oregon State University’s Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems, will feature an array of virtual programming throughout the month of October. Conference sessions will focus on strengthening farm sustainability, building more resilient local food systems and supporting the long term profitability of […]

Retiring New England farmers have identified a need for help to prepare for, plan, and navigate the complex process of farm business succession. Over 10,000 New England farmers are likely to exit farming in the next decade. Many want technical assistance on specific aspects of succession and transfer. Most lack adequate succession plans. They need […]

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 […]

Dairy farming is an essential part of a local and sustainable food system. Real dairy starts with real farm families. Across the US, 95% of all dairy farms are family farms. New England is home to over 1,000 dairy farms. Many of them have been passed down for generations.  In Massachusetts, seventeen of the 117 […]