Last fall, Land For Good launched the Northeast Farmland Access Network to give service providers a community of practice where they can learn with and from each other about farmland access. This is a peer network for early-career agricultural service providers who offer, or want to offer, farmland access support to farmers. The Network’s goal is to help service providers increase their knowledge, skills, and connections so they can better serve farm seekers.
The Network is open to agricultural service providers, land access organizations, community organizers, agency staff, educators, consultants, mediators, attorneys, conservation professionals, and others who support farmland access in some form. Last season, we covered topics including land tenure basics, soft issues and soft skills, financial readiness, land search criteria and suitability assessment, and methods to improve farmland affordability.
The Network is a collaboration between Land For Good, Farmland for a New Generation New York, Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association, and New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. Since we started the Network, more than 65 individuals have registered from across the Northeast, representing farm viability planners, land trust staff, extension educators, farmer training program coordinators, community organizers, and more.
What participants say they’re getting out of it:
- Opportunity to practice and build skills with real scenarios in small groups; connecting with others in the farmland access space.
- I’ve appreciated the diversity of topics and general format.
- I am impressed with the continued participation in these great Zoom meetings.
Participants also asked for more of what makes the Network work: more time to connect, more joint calls, and more specific success stories from the field.
What’s coming up?
To plan this season, we surveyed service providers in September. Respondents showed the strongest interest in legal resources for farmers, equity-building strategies on non-owned farmland, and serving BIPOC, immigrant, and other underserved farmers and land seekers. We may also discuss farm leases, financing infrastructure improvements, case management approaches, and farm succession and transition planning. Your input helps us select topics. Sessions are designed to be interactive.
Want to present or co-facilitate? Please let us know!
The Network will reconvene and meet virtually on November 18th. Drop-in sessions will then meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 2-3:30pm via Zoom.
Register now
The Northeast Farmland Access Network is free to join and open to agricultural service providers at all stages of their careers. If you’re early in your work on farmland access, or if you’re an experienced practitioner who wants to deepen your connections and stay current on emerging tools and approaches, this network is for you.
Register now to join any drop-in session.
Learn more about the Northeast Farmland Access Network.
Questions, or interested in presenting? Contact Rachel Brice, Program & Development Manager. Or take our survey to give input!
Funding provided by the Northeast USDA Regional Food Business Center and other general supporters of Land For Good. While federal funding through the Regional Food Business Center was cancelled as of September 2025, Land For Good and partners believe in the value of strengthening this network and will continue this offering.
