More resources available when & where farmers really need it

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 summer farmers are coping with near record-breaking rain, and an ongoing pandemic, yet continue to nourish our communities,” shared Jim Hafner, LFG’s Executive Director. “Many are dealing with lost crops and flooded fields, along with reduced consumer demand for on-farm purchases compared to last summer. Amid these struggles, farmers continue to steward the land to build resilience and mitigate climate change.”

To reach farmers when and where they needed resources and guidance during the pandemic, we hosted a number of online workshops and webinars together with our partners. These resources are now available as a learning library on YouTube.

Photo credit: Vital Communities

We all look forward to getting back in-person and seeing you out on our farms!

Earlier this month we hosted a farm tour and training in collaboration with NOFA-NH and Vital Communities, pictured here. Jonathan Hayden, owner-operator of Winter Street Farm (Claremont, NH) speaks to other farmers about no-till practices. This event also offered tips on farmland access strategies and tenure models. Read Winter Street Farm’s feature article in The Natural Farmer, Starting a Farm in a Pandemic: Reflections from Winter Street Farm.

This month also wraps up the three-year, regional Land Access Project, Phase 3 (LAP3) that expanded services to help more beginning farmers access farmland in each New England state. Many of these workshops and webinars were a direct result of this regional project.

Special thanks to our many LAP3 project collaborators, including the leadstate partners: Maine Farmland Trust, Vital Communities (NH), New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (MA), Intervale Center (VT), University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension, and the Young Farmer Network of Rhode Island and Southeastern MA. Stay tuned for a wrap-up report on the project later this fall.

LAP3 is supported by a grant from the USDA/NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (NIFA # 2018-70017-28531).

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PO Box 625
Keene, New Hampshire 03431
Phone: 603-357-1600