en español: Una nueva guía en lenguaje sencillo sobre cómo encontrar, evaluar y obtener tierras de cultivo When looking for farmland to start or expand a farm business, there are lots of steps to find the right piece of land. … Continue reading
Archive | Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)
Spanish resources for farmers looking for land
en español: Recursos en español para agricultores que buscan tierras. If you are a farmer looking for land to start, relocate or expand your operation, there are resources to guide your planning and search. If you are not yet farming, … Continue reading
New webinar series helps landowners support land access in New England
Land access is a prime challenge to farmers, particularly new and beginning farmers. Ninety percent of the 20,000 landowners that lease out active farmland in New England are non-farmers. Non-farming landowners play a crucial role in supporting secure land tenure … Continue reading
Support for farm succession planning & land access in the Berkshires
Berkshire County, Massachusetts has a rich history of agriculture. Today it supports a huge diversity of farms from large, multi-generational dairy farms to small, urban vegetable operations, as well as farmers markets, farm stands, and many farm-focused events. Jae Silverman, … Continue reading
Acquire your own farm with some helpful training
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 … Continue reading
Winter sessions offer help with farm succession planning
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 … Continue reading
A dairy farm finds hope in a successful transfer to a new farmer
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; … Continue reading
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. … Continue reading
Dairy farms in Massachusetts, and across New England, are evaporating
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. … Continue reading
Beginning farmers Cara & Michael find land through farm link program
Finding secure access to land is the top barrier for a new generation of farmers looking to gain ground. About 61% of beginning famers report that access to land is their biggest challenge, according to the National Young Farmers Coalition. … Continue reading