How do commercial farm buyers differ from other rural property buyers?
Many real estate professionals have a sincere interest in seeing working farms stay in production, and seek insights and guidance about how to market farms or farmland with commercial potential. Farm seekers are growing more sophisticated, and a primary tool that many farm seekers use in their farm search is the MLS and other real estate listings.
LFG has compiled the resources below to help real estate professionals better understand and serve commercial farm buyers.
- Land For Good offers the course Tools and Resources for Working with Farms with Commercial Agricultural Potential periodically at sites around our New England service area. Continuing Education credits are available in some states. See the Agenda and Course Description here, or Contact us to learn more or propose a workshop for your area.
- We have compiled a list of Online Resources & Links relevant to commercial farm assessment and transactions.
- Tutorial of the Vermont Natural Resources Atlas – A Resource for Farm Mapping
- GranitViewII Tutorial – A Resource for Farm Mapping
- Farm Rental Assessment Checklist
- Benefits of Farmland Conservation
- Selecting a Conservation Strategy
- Conservation Easements Frequently Asked Questions
Synopsis of a Conservation Easement Deed - Enhanced Federal Incentives for Land Conservation
- Selling a Farm with a Conservation Easement that Includes an Option to Purchase at Agricultural Value (OPAV)
- An Example of a Sale of a Farm Restricted by an Option to Purchase at Agricultural Value (OPAV)
- Conservation Land For Sale Checklist
All materials are subject to copyright.
With special thanks to the following individuals and agencies for assistance in developing these tools and resources:
Mike Ghia, Vermont Field Agent, Land For Good
Ben Waterman, New Farmers for New American Program Coordinator, UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Jon Ramsey, Director of Farmland Access Program, Vermont Land Trust
Peg Merrens, VP Conservation, Upper Valley Land Trust
