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 to successful communication, and more. It provides a thorough introduction to the complex issues of farmland access and tenure.
Our first virtual series was a blast. Each session was unique and interactive. More than 20 individuals participated, all at different stages of their farming and land acquisition journeys. Many of the new and beginning farmers were looking to start collective ventures, while others were considering a move to New England in order to avoid extreme weather events like fire and drought. Highlights from the series included a farmer panel who shared their experiences acquiring farmland, a deep dive into land tenure models, discussions on farm finance, and many interactive discussions.
The best part about the class was that it was not romantic, there wasn’t a sugar coating to the information shared, it was grounded in reality,” shared an attendee.
New and beginning farmers who participated are finding themselves in a better position to make a plan and take next steps toward getting on farmland and gaining more secure tenure. Interested in a future training? Join our interest list.
Can’t wait to get started? Dig in with the following resources:
- Acquiring Your Farm 2.0
- A do-it-yourself online tutorial that addresses some of the same material with lessons and worksheets to help you assess your situation and develop an action plan
- Farm Seeker Toolbox
- A collection of guides, worksheets, articles and other resources to inform your decision-making and guide your planning and search for farmland
- Farmland Leasing Toolbox
- A deeper dive into the nuances of drafting a secure lease complete with fact sheets, lease examples and templates
- New England Farmland Finder
- A free website to search for or post farm properties for sale or lease, covering all New England states
Outside of New England? Visit the national directory of farmlink programs at the Farmland Information Center.
Part of the Land for Farmers project, supported by Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program grant #2021-49400-35642 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
