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Projects

We believe that effectively addressing the challenges of accessing farmland for agriculture requires a collaborative and creative solutions at multiple systems levels – from farm to policy. We have put this collaborative, systems approach into practice. We work on ‘on the ground’ assisting individual farmers, farm families and landowners,  and also collaborate extensively with local, regional and national partners.

Project highlights under the following themes:

*Meant to include farmers who are generally considered to be non-White and may be referred to as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) by some, minority farmers by others, and “socially disadvantaged” farmers by USDA. “The USDA defines socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (SDFRs) as those belonging to groups that have been subject to racial or ethnic prejudice.” They include farmers who are Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian or Pacific Islander. Some USDA programs include women in this category. 

Regional Systems Change

    • Land for Farmers – Training and Technical Assistance to Achieve Farmland Access for Beginning Farmers across New England (2021 – 2024).  Land access continues to be a top challenge for beginning farmers. This newest initiative builds from our previous collaborations and endeavors to develop new training, expand advising, and improve resources and tools for farmers and landowners. It will also be an opportunity to learn further with our partners about how best to support the variety of beginning farmer communities in our region. This initiative will work with beginning farm enterprises of all sizes, enterprises and growing practices within the six states of New England. The project’s guiding purpose is for more beginning farmers in New England to start or expand their farm business through successful access to land by purchase or secure tenure agreements.  Funding is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program [grant no. 2021-49400-35642] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
    • Land Access Project, Phase 3 or LAP3 (2018 – 2021). The past achievements of our regional approach and strong reliance on collaboration have resulted in many successful outcomes and a strong foundation to move forward. LAP3 will improve and expand services to help more beginning farmers access farmland in each New England state, addressing key gaps identified by both farmers and service providers. Core funding for LAP is supported by grants from the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.
    • Land Access Project, Phase 2 or LAP2 (2015 – 2018). Building on LAP1, the project worked to improve programs and policies around land access and transfer in each New England state. During LAP2, over 2,060 beginning farmers improved their access to land or tenure situation. Project teams and partners worked with beginning farmers, established and transitioning farmers, landowners, conservation organizations, service providers, communities and policymakers. LFG and its collaborators delivered 144 events including stand-alone and conference workshops, mixers, and presentations, as well as a national conference on land access issues. LAP2 created numerous tools, guides and reports as farmer resources. Read more
    • Land Access Project, Phase 1 or LAP1 (2010 –2013). This comprehensive project addressed the farmland access challenge for New England’s beginning farmers from a systems perspective. During LAP1, at least 800 beginning farmers improved their readiness to acquire farms. Over 50 service providers from six New England states collaborated on multiple task forces. With a dozen workshops for non-farming landowners, a cross-training for farm transfer advisors, expanded New England Farmland Finder, upgraded Farm Transfer Network of New England, and new guides for exiting farmers, next generation farmers, and public and private landowners, LAP1 advanced land access across the region. Reports on policy innovations, farmland investors and agricultural easements translated research into practical recommendations for improving land access in our region. LAP1 resulted in improved services, coordination and communication about land access and transfer throughout New England. Read more

Policy, Research and Investigation

  • Improving Public Policies for Land Access in New England (2015-2018). In collaboration with American Farmland Trust and the Conservation Law Fund, this land access policy project explored and advanced state policies in each New England state that foster land access and transfer. In year one (2015), we convened leaders, conducted targeted research, developed actions plans, and supporting state stakeholder implementation. Over 80 stakeholders participated in 15 dialogues in six states and four cities to built greater awareness, expand relationships, identify challenges and develop consensus around policy priorities in four areas. Based on the policy matrix, we researched six priority policy topics and developed state action plans. In subsequent years, we lead and supported multi-stakeholder efforts to implement action plans that advance specific public policies at the municipal, state, regional and federal levels. See our Blog for recent updates. Funded by The John Merck Fund.
  • Farmland Investment Research Project – Phase II (2014-2017). A part of the Farmland Access Task Force of the Vermont Farmland Access Working Group, LFG led the second phase of investigation of values-based farmland investor models. In this phase, selected farmers, farm finance advisors and attorneys learned about several farmland investor entities that have – or would like to have – farm projects in New England. Farmers and investment group representatives sat down together to dialogue about how these models can best benefit farmers and investors in our region. Read the project report, Farmland Investment Models: Innovative Land Access for New England. Read the Phase I report. Funded by the Vermont Farm to Plate Network Fund.
  • A national Non-Operator Landowner Project (2013-2014) led by Utah State University and American Farmland Trust is researching non-operator landowners, with a particular focus on women farm landlords and their attitudes toward conservation. LFG serves on the Advisory Group of this project, and coordinated a focus group of women landlords in New England. Funded by Rachel’s Network, USDA/ERS and The Mosaic Company.
  • Farmland Access, Succession, Tenure and Stewardship (FarmLASTS) Project (2008 – 2010). Co-led by LFG and University of Vermont, this national project focused on farm access, tenure and succession. Over two-dozen collaborators including universities, agencies and NGOs from across the country worked in three national teams focused on research, curriculum development, and outreach in three areas: (1) farmland access and tenure for farm entrants; (2) farm succession challenges for exiting farm operators, and; (3) the impacts of tenure and succession arrangements on land use and the environment. An in depth research report concludes with extensive policy and program recommendations. Project outputs included a four-module educational curriculum, an Extension manual, and a national conference for leaders in the field. Funded by the USDA National Research Initiative. Read more on the FarmLASTS website.

Special Population Farmers

  • In partnership with Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success (NH), we are delivering workshops in 2015 to Congolese, Bhutanese, Somali Bantu refugees as part of the New American Sustainable Agriculture Project, ORIS’ farmer incubator program.
  • In partnership with Cultivating Community (Portland ME), we delivered a workshop and educational materials in 2012 to Somali and Sudanese immigrant farmers about land access, including how to find land and how to negotiate agreements. In 2015 we repeated and expanded this support to the immigrant farmers participating in the NASAP/Fresh Start Farms program.  In early 2016, four Somali-Bantu farmers got established on a 30-acre farm in Lewiston – to expand their own operations and to make land available for incoming incubator farmers – with training, support and land search help from LFG and Maine Farmland Trust. Read about this success in our Blog and In The News.
  • LFG worked with Nuestras Raices (Holyoke MA) from 2011-2013 to deliver informational workshops, one-on-one assistance and a written guide about finding farmland for immigrant farmers on Nuestras Raices’ La Finca incubator farm in western Massachusetts.

To learn more about our work with new Americans and other special population farmers, contact us.

Professional Training

  • Farm succession training for professionals who serve farmers in New England (2021). Successful farm transfers require a supportive and knowledgeable team of service providers. This new professional development project will strengthen the knowledge, skills and collaboration of a diverse group of service providers who work with—or want to work with—transitioning farm families in various ways across New England. Whether you are an experienced succession advisor, have relevant knowledge, or hope to do more, this project welcomes you. Funded by the USDA Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Read more on our Blog.
  • Real Estate Professional Training: Tools & Resources for Working with Farms with Commercial Agricultural Potential (2015 – present). We offer training for real estate professionals to increase their awareness and access to resources so they can better connect with commercial farm buyers, and improve the conditions under which many aspiring, beginning and established farmers seek land. The curriculum is eligible for Continuing Education Credits in several New England states. For more information about past trainings, see our blog.
  • Farmland for the Next Generation: Land Access Training (2015 – 2019), LFG is part of an “Educational Enhancement Team” of leading experts for a national project led by American Farmland Trust that assessed land access educational programming and trained trainers to deliver a new land access curricula. The national project team identified and evaluated land access training resources and gaps, then based on this, develop a “comprehensive national curriculum” to reach diverse audiences and regions. After field testing with a national cadre of two dozen agriculture educators, the ultimate outcome was envisioned as the foundation of a national network of land access training providers, and a comprehensive, widely available and adaptable curriculum. Funded by a grant from the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.
  • Farmland Advisors Project (2012 – 2014). LFG partnered with the American Farmland Trust to provide professional training, materials and support around farmland access, farm succession and working with farmland owners. Webinars, fact sheets and two days of training (January 2014) were provided to 90 agriculture service providers in New England and New York. Participants represent land trusts, beginning farmer organizations, extension offices, lending institutions and local and state agencies. Funded by Northeast SARE Professional Development Program grant and a Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancment grant.

To learn more about our professional training and networking activities, contact us.

  • Western Massachusetts Land Trusts and Working Lands (2008). LFG led a roundtable meeting and three workshops for western Massachusetts land trusts to promote land trusts’ involvement in working lands conservation projects. Funded by the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition.

To learn more about our work with land trusts and other conservation organizations, contact us.

Community Initiatives

  • The Berkshire Farmland Initiative (2014-present), is a collaboration among LFG, The Carrot Project, and Berkshire Grown to address land access and transfer in Berkshire County (MA). LFG hosts the Initiative webpage, and has co-hosted farmer-landowners mixers. In April 2014, we keynoted and help design a county-wide Summit that grew out of a three-year agricultural planning effort in Berkshire county. With American Farmland Trust, the Initiative launched a fund to which farmers and landowners may apply to support their farmland-related plans and transactions. LFG participation is funded by in part by a grant from the Lawson Valentine Foundation and our donors.
  • As part of the Franklin County (MA) Farm and Food System Project, LFG helped survey the county’s farmers on their needs, including around farm succession. We held land access and farm succession workshops and followed up with several dozen respondents who indicated a desire for succession planning assistance. Download the Project’s final report, which includes a project timeline and survey results. Funded in part by the H.P. Kendall Foundation.
  • MAGIC Comprehensive Agricultural Planning Project (2012 –2013). LFG was a partner in this 13-town regional initiative led by the Metropolitan Area (Massachusetts) Planning Council, Consortium for Sustainable Communities. The Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC) enlisted LFG, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, Conservation Law Foundation and Sudbury Valley Trustees and thirteen eastern Massachusetts municipalities to increase the viability of farming and promote sustainable food sheds in the MAGIC sub-region. LFG helped design and conduct a municipal survey and regional forum, and wrote a report (2014) chapter with recommendation on land access, farm succession and farm leasing. Read more. Funded by US Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Note: Links to this project and the report appear to have been removed from the MAPC website)
  • The Town of Middleborough, Massachusetts (2010 – 2011) contracted with LFG to develop strategies to retain the working farmland and rural character of the Thompson Street neighborhood as a heritage agricultural landscape. LFG assisted Thompson Street area farmers and farmland owners to bring or keep their land in active farming. Funded by the Town of Middleborough Planning Department.
  • Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership’s (SEMAP) Farms Forever Project (2006 – 2009). As part of this project LFG conducted research on farm succession programs, and provided subsidized farm transfer planning services to 10 farmers in Southeast Massachusetts. Three “Where Do I Start…” guides were produced to assist farm seekers, transitioning farm families and landowners to take first steps. Funded by the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program and a private foundation.

To learn more about our work with communities, contact us.

Land Access Training and Support

  • Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association contracts with LFG (2011 – present) to provide education, assistance and support related to land access and tenure to participants in MOFGA’s Journeyperson Program. Our Maine field agent conducts workshops and extensive individual consulting to JourneyPersons preparing to acquire farmland. Funded by the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program and a private foundation.
  • The Farm Leasing Project (2008 – 2012) educated over 400 farm seekers throughout New England using a variety of methods including workshops, web resources and direct technical assistance to farm seekers. We developed an online tutorial on farm leasing and a seven unit online course, Acquiring Your Farm. Funded by grants from the USDA Risk Management Education Program and the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Program.
  • The Prairie Crossing Farm Incubator (2011 – 2013). LFG is partnered with the Liberty Prairie Foundation (LPF) to deliver five workshops and is consulting with farmers and Foundation staff on land access and non-traditional lease agreements. LPF sponsors Prairie Crossing Farm incubator in Grayslake, Illinois. Funded in part by USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.
  • Land Tenure for Farmer Groups (2012 –2013). This project investigated alternative models such as group ownership and multiple farmer tenancy for farmers to jointly access land. Background and farmer interviews led to recommendations and webinars for farmers and service providers. In partnership with the Greenhorns and Cooperative Development Institute, and funded by the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.

To learn more about our work on farm leasing and other alternatives to land ownership, contact us.

Farm Transfer and Succession

  • Farm Transfer Network of New England – FTNNE (2006 – present). As part of the regional Land Access Project Phase 1 (LAP1), LFG led a collaboration of six New England land grant universities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that created a regional service network and website to help farm families find succession and transfer planning assistance and resources. The core of the project website is a searchable online directory of farm transfer advisors and materials at farmtransfernewengland.org.  A completely updated and redesigned FTNNE website administered by Land For Good was relaunched in May 2017 as part of the Land Access Project Phase 2.  This initiative and related efforts, like trainings for attorneys on farm succcession, continues to increase coordination among educators, advisors and other farm transfer service professionals – and make farm transfer services more visible in the region. Visit the farmtransfernewengland.org
  • Transferring the Farm Workshops (2006 – 2010). This multi-year collaboration with Extension educators and others in all six New England states provided daylong workshops and follow-up technical assistance on farm transfer and succession. Funded by USDA Risk Management Agency and other funders. Read about the project in “New England Workshops Increase Participant Knowledge of Farm Transfer Issues” in the Journal of Extension (April 2009).
  • Women and Farm Transfer (2006 – 2008). LFG partnered with the Cooperative Development Institute, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture and the Women’s Agricultural Network to address the particular challenges faced by women facing a farm transition. An educational curriculum and supporting resource binder were developed and delivered to 170 women in New England through seminars and learning circles. Partners also delivered a train-the-trainer workshop for educators, advisors and other service providers who work with farm women. Funded by the USDA Farm Service Agency.

To learn more about how we work with farm families and farm transfer advisors and educators, contact us.