Current

Events

Pasture & Hay Leasing: Access, Agreements, and Security
Northeast Grazing & Livestock Conference
January 31, 2026
3:00-4:00pm
Doubletree, Manchester, NH or Online via Whova
Register

• Leasing and verbal agreements continue to be one of the most important ways to access hay and pasture land across New England. Having a well-crafted lease is a crucial tool to have clarity and protect your farm business’s land base, security, and planning horizon. In this session we will unpack the elements and options of a well-structured lease, and explore the nuances that make access to pasture and hay land unique. This session for folks raising pasture-based livestock in the Northeast is facilitated by Jae Silverman, a land access and leasing specialist at Land For Good, and also a first generation hay farmer in Massachusetts who farms entirely on leased land. Hosted by the Northeast Grazing & Livestock Conference.

Southeast New England Agriculture Conference & Trade Show – New Snow Date!
February 8, 2026
8:30am-4:30pm
Bristol Aggie High School, Dighton, MA
Register

• Shifting the Ownership Paradigm: Re-centering Farmer Equity with Emerging Models for Land Access, 9:15-10:45am:As farmland prices continue to rise and many farmers are priced out of purchasing land, there is an increasing need for alternative models of farmland purchase and ownership. This session will center a panel of speakers each presenting about a unique model for equity building and farmland ownership. We’ll hear from Farmland Commons about land decommodification and farmer autonomy, from Land For Good about equity building through the ground lease model, as well as Caroline Pam, former owner of The Kitchen Garden. Each speaker will cover strategies and tools for enacting the model so that participants may come away feeling both inspired and empowered. We will leave plenty of time for Q&A. Session moderated by Land For Good.

• Lease Clinic and Communication Skills, 11:00-11:45am: A good farm lease serves as both a legal document which may be upheld in a court of law as well as a communication tool to help establish clear expectations for successful long-term relationships. We will review important components of the lease document, engage in an activity to practice communication and negotiation skills, and write sample language that could be used in our own current or future leases. Land For Good’s Field Agent, Deanna Levanti, will co-present with Stacy Entel from CMCRI/Land & Sea Together.

Land Access! Leasing and Pathways to Long-term Land Tenure
Farmer to Farmer Conference
February 8, 2026
9:30am-12:30pm
Holiday Inn By the Bay, Portland, ME
Register

• Join Maine’s Land For Good field agent, MOFGA’s beginning farmer specialist, and a panel of farmers to discuss leasing land and pathways to secure long term land tenure. They’ll explore the elements of a good lease and discuss planning for accessing longer-term land security. This is designed for farmers that are looking for land, leasing, and/or are currently in a land transition. Hosted by Maine Organic Gardeners and Farmers Association.

Northeast Farmland Access Network

In an effort to strengthen farmland access support, we are launching a peer network for early-career agricultural service providers who are currently providing, or want to provide, farmland access support to farmers. To shape this initiative, we surveyed service providers in the Northeast to help us tailor programming to your needs and priorities. Session topics will range from land tenure basics to financial readiness to “soft skills” like mediation and dealing with power dynamics. Topics will be guided by the participants of the network calls, as the sessions are designed to be interactive. 

Strong, diverse collaborations and partnerships are essential to improve land access programs and policies! Land For Good is working in collaboration with Farmland for a New Generation New York, Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association, and New Entry Sustainable Farming Project to develop this network and offer space to connect, share, and learn. Registration is required for each session. Read more

Virtual drop-in sessions will meet on the second Wednesday of the month from 2:00 – 3:30pm on: 

• February 11th – Laura Cullip from Renewing the Countryside in Minnesota will lead a discussion about how service providers can support farmers in their land search by effectively evaluating a property against a farm plan. We will cover tools you can use with farmers to help them refine and prioritize their land search criteria and how to evaluate land/farm sites. A few case studies of evaluating land suitability against a farmer’s plan will be presented with ample time for discussion. Bring any case studies you may have around land suitability to share and discuss with the group as well. Register now
• March 11th – Register now
• April 8th – Register now

 

Farm Succession School

Every winter, we offer a Farm Succession School to help senior farmers and farm partners working toward retirement or farm transition. This is a three-day course that we bring to different states across New England. Learn the many aspects of succession planning, clarify vision and goals, talk with peers and advisors, and review the necessary documents to provide for a smooth transition. You do not need to have an identified successor to participate in this course. Read more

Winter 2026 schedule! Plan to join us for Farm Succession School in:

Massachusetts
at Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Office
42 Century Way, West Springfield, MA
January 26th,
February 23rd, and
March 23rd

Registration is now closed.

Interested in a future succession school in your area? If you have a request for a location, state or region, or venue suggestions, please complete this form.

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