Our Good Work, Winter 2022

With the daylight growing longer, I find myself relishing the possibility that lies ahead. Farmers are laying the foundation for the upcoming growing season: ordering seeds fixing equipment, making crop plans, revising leases, and hiring workers.

Each new year, season, and advocacy cycle is another chance to work towards a farming future that is more accessible, more resilient, and more equitable. We’re energized to build upon last year’s advocacy efforts and keep fighting for an increase in USDA support for one-on-one business technical assistance for small and mid-sized farm and food businesses. Dedicated federal funding could make a sizable impact on the viability of small and medium sized farms and those that have been historically marginalized in our food system. These producers are key to the resiliency of the food system. State legislatures are back in session, Farmland Action Plan development is underway in MA, and we and allies are mobilizing in the long run-up to the 2023 Farm Bill.

Our winter training season is in full swing with our new Acquiring Your Farm course, a Farm Succession Planning webinar series, and in-person Farm Succession School in Massachusetts. Farmers joined Acquiring Your Farm from across the Northeast, and from as far away as California and Arizona.

"I have been loving this course so far. It's been awesome to hear everyone's different experiences and the range of their land access approaches. So many excellent resources as well," shared one participant.

Read more in this issue about our work in your state and across the region, and meet our newest member of the team, Rachel Brice.

Thank you for continued support and generous response to our year-end appeal. Because of you, we're able to educate and guide farmers and be a regional advocacy voice. There's still time to make a gift! Give today at landforgood.org/donate.

Your generous contributions help grow, diversify, and sustain New England's farming future. Also, a big thank you to our funders highlighted below! Together we're supporting farmers and keeping farmland alive and thriving for generations to come.

With gratitude,

Jim Hafner
Executive Director
The Farm Bill and the state of the Region

The farm bill is a huge package of legislation passed every five years that structures our food and farm systems. It has a tremendous impact on farming livelihoods and who wins and loses in our nation's food and farming system. The current bill expires in 2023, which means behind the scenes advocacy work is beginning.

Special thanks to Representative Annie Kuster, who at January 20th's House Agriculture Committee hearing on the state of the rural economy with USDA Secretary Vilsack stressed the importance of funding one-on-one business technical assistance for small and mid-sized farmers to ensure their long term success. Representative Kuster joined 50 of her congressional colleagues in urging USDA Secretary Vilsack to dedicate COVID relief bill funding to one-on-one farm and food business technical assistance.

As members of the Agricultural Viability Alliance and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and working alongside American Farmland Trust, National Young Farmers Coalition and others, we will continue advocating to keep land in farming, diversify and sustain farming opportunity and keep small and medium sized farms visible in our region.
Welcome Rachel! LFG's new Program Coordinator

Rachel Brice, a life-long gardener and sometimes farm worker with a passion for small farms and local food systems, has joined our team as the new Program Coordinator. She will directly assist farmers and landowners and support region-wide program development and delivery.

Rachel will represent LFG particularly in New Hampshire with outreach, networking, and program development for farmers looking to access land, plan for farm succession, and obtain more secure land tenure.

Interested in having a farmer use your land? Join this free webinar series for landowners

When you make your land available to farmers you help secure a future for farming in your community. Farmers are looking for land—from a small vegetable plot to acreage for livestock or crops. Partnering with farmers and land stewards to create productive and sustainable uses for all or parts of your property can bring many rewards!

Designed for farming and non-farming private landowners and their representatives (real estate agents, etc), Make Your Land Available For Farming is a three-part webinar series happening March 23, 30 & April 6, 2022 from 12:00 - 1:00pm. Hosted by the New England Farm Link Collaborative: Connecticut FarmLink Maine FarmLink, Vermont Land Link, and Land For Good. 

Register now! Workshop recordings will be available to all who register.

Find more tools & resources to make your land available for farming.

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.
Plan for the future of your farm

This winter nearly 100 farmers joined our Farm Succession Planning webinar series. They learned the basics of farm succession planning, how to get started and where to find resources, and received support on this challenging process. By the end participants identified and excitedly shared actionable next steps they will take including scheduling a meeting for family members to discuss their visions for the farm, making an appointment with a lawyer, separating personal finances from farm assets and so much more.

Planning for the future of your farm starts now! Learn how to make informed decisions around transferring your farm to a next generation family member or unrelated successor. Watch the recordings and find resources for Farm Transfer Planning. Complete our Farm Succession Form to initiate individualized coaching for your farm or family.

Supported by individual donations, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, and Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network 2021 grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.
Acquire your own farm with some helpful training

Acquiring Your Farm is a virtual training series for new and beginning farmers that helps them 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 series was a blast. More than 20 individuals participated, all at different stages of their farming and land acquisition journeys. Many of the participants 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 panel with three farmers who shared their experience acquiring farmland, a deep dive into land tenure models, discussions on farm finance, and many interactive discussions.

Participants are now 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.

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,
In Massachusetts: Farm succession planning assistance available this winter

The Farm Succession School comes back to Massachusetts this winter as an opportunity for senior generation farmers to talk with peers, learn from advisors, and get support on the challenging process of farm succession and transfer planning.

Succession planning is a process of exploring how to transfer the farm business, assets, and management to a future owner. Our Succession School provides farmers and farming partners with the structured and sustained support to make decisions, engage their families, and organize the legal and financial mechanics.

Missed the school or interested in other support? Find tools & resources for Farm Transfer Planning or initiate coaching for your farm or family by completing our Farm Succession Form.

Co-hosted and funded by Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ Agricultural Business Training Program.
In Connecticut: Farmland mixers connect landowners with farmers seeking land

We've partnered with UConn Extension's Solid Ground Program and Connecticut FarmLink to host a series of Farmland Mixers. The first virtual mixer in January was a great success.

"As landowners, we found the virtual mixer to be very useful, both in attracting farmers to our land and in seeing what other land owners had to offer their tenants," shared one participant. "We are now in talks with three farmers, all of whom seem to share our vision for what we'd like to do with the property."

The next mixer in the series takes place in person in April. Activities and prompts encourage interaction between farmers and landowners, and technical assistance is available from a range of service providers - includes soil and natural resources assessment, lease crafting and review, information about grants and financing, and more. Stay tuned for details. In the meantime:


In New Hampshire: Farm and food business coaching from a team of experienced advisors

Thanks to a grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission, administered by the Agricultural Viability Alliance (LFG Executive Director Jim Hafner sits on the Steering Committee), organizations from around the state are partnering to offer teams of coaches to New Hampshire farms and food businesses to help them meet their business and management goals. Teams of specialists can can offer no-cost assistance to farm and food businesses' in Belknap, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, and Sullivan counties.

Succession planning is included! Get help to start, continue or complete your farm succession plan with Land For Good field agents.

Learn more about the types of assistance available and apply today at Vital Communities.

Special thanks to our funders!

In December, Farm Aid announced that it distributed nearly a million dollars in grant funding in 2021. Land For Good is honored to be among the New England recipients growing the good food movement, helping farmers thrive, and taking action to change the system. Our $7,500 grant will allow us to provide individualized land access and farm transfer advising, coaching and referral services to beginning, established, and transitioning farmers in New England. Learn more about Farm Aid's grant program and check out our New England partners who also received grants.

Special thanks also to the Clif Bar Family Foundation, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Community Grants Program, and many others.

Make a gift today that will go right to work helping farmers access, secure and
transfer farmland in New England.
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