• Systems Change Approach
• Policy Research & Investigation
• Special Population Farmers
• Professional Training
• Community Initiatives
• Land Access Training & Support
• Farm Transfer & Succession

Systems Change Approach

• Land for Farmers (2021-2024). This project offers training and technical assistance to achieve farmland access for beginning farmers across New England, and it builds from our previous collaborations and endeavors. It is also 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 across 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 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

• Land Access Project or LAP (2010 – 2021). The long-term goal of the three-phase, multi-year Land Access Project (LAP) was for more beginning farmers to successfully access land to start or expand their farm businesses across New England. Over 100 partner organizations collaborated to strengthen land access services, programs and policies throughout New England working with beginning farmers, established and transitioning farmers, landowners, agricultural service providers, communities and policymakers. LAP delivered many new farmer resources, plus over 200 events including workshops, mixers, and presentations, including a National Conference on land access issues. Funding was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

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. 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. We lead and supported multi-stakeholder efforts to implement action plans that advanced specific public policies at the municipal, state, regional and federal levels. Funding was supported by The John Merck Fund.
• Gaining Insights, Gaining Access Project (2014-2016), led by American Farmland Trust and Land For Good, gathered information about the trends, challenges and needs of farmers without successors, and non-farming landowners. To improve outreach and services to these audiences we analyzed and presented to service providers and policy makers what we learned through state-level briefing, webinars, and regional and state specific profiles. Funding was supported by The Claneil Foundation.
• Farmland Investment Research Project – Phase 2 (2014-2017). A part of the Farmland Access Task Force of the Vermont Farmland Access Working Group, Land For Good 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. Funding was supported 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.
• The New England Food Policy Project report (2014) contains a section on land access in which LFG was a lead contributor to the research and writing. We co-led a webinar on land access and transfer as part of this project. Funded by the Henry P. Kendall Foundation.
• 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 – 2019). 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 AgEnhancement grant.
• 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.

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.
• LFG is fostering farmland access in the Monadnock  Region (NH) in collaboration with the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD), the Monadnock Conservancy and UNH Cooperative Extension (2014-16). Together we are learning from  landowners and farmers about farming on conserved land and by hosting workshops for farmland owners. Funded by a grant from the USDA Northeast SARE Program.
• 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.

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.

Farm Transfer and Succession

• Organic Farmer Transfer and Succession – Phase I (2015).  LFG is giving the organic farm transition “conundrum” focused attention and support by investigating organic dairy farmers’ unique transition planning dilemmas and opportunities. Through discussion groups and interviews with organic dairy farmers in northern New England,  we will develop better strategies to help farmers address farm succession. Read more on our Blog. Supported by grants from Organic Valley’s Farmers Advocating for Organics Fund and the Clif Bar Family Foundation.
• 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 InstituteCommunity 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 our work, contact us.