Photo at Moonrose Farm in Rehoboth

After nearly three years, our Twilight Grower series kicked off last week, with the help of UMass Extension and Elliot Farm in Lakeville. We had such a great time connecting with farmers from across Southeastern Massachusetts, discussing pests, pollinators, and best practices, and touring the beautiful fields & greenhouses!

We're so excited for the rest of this series, which continues next week at Moonlight Rose Alpacas in Swansea. Join us on Tuesday, June 28th at 4pm to discuss improving pasture, diversifying your operation with fiber, and more!

And next month, join us at Weatherlow Farms in Westport on Thursday, July 21st at 4pm. NOFA/Mass's soil technician Ruben Parrilla will be facilitating a conversation about soil alongside farmer Phoebe Poole. We'll discuss building soil carbon & microbe activity, soil testing, and more!

Take a look at a few of the currently open grant, reimbursement, and award programs below, then check out a complete list on our webpage!

REMINDER: SEMAP can assist Southeastern Massachusetts farmers in grant applications. We can help you determine your eligibility, walk through the application together, review before submission, offer a letter of support, or any combination of these! Apply for assistance here or email Shannon at shickey@semaponline.org with any questions.

MDAR is offering two hands-on business planning courses for aspiring, beginning, and expanding farmers, both to be held this October and November.

Exploring the Small Farm Dream – For those who are thinking about or in the planning stages of a starting their own farm, including those who are expanding a hobby to an income-generating scale. Cost of attendance is $100 per enterprise. Email questions to Jessica.Camp@mass.gov.

Growing Your Farm Business – For farmers who have been operating a farm business in Massachusetts for at least the two prior years, and are looking to develop a business plan and financial projections. Cost of attendance is $150 per farm. Email questions to Michael.Parker@mass.gov.

These courses are also a great chance to network with and learn from other MA farmers in similar stages of business development. Applications are now open, but will close once each course is full – apply soon!

Our friends at C&C Reading Farm in West Bridgewater are selling their business, which includes farmer housing, a large & well-established farm stand, underground irrigation, and barn infrastructure on 74 beautiful acres of APR farmland. This is a prime spot with an existent customer base. We are sad to see Lynn and Pete go and wish them a happy & healthy retirement!

Three tracks of land have been re-released for proposals at the state-owned land on Bridge St in Lakeville. Up to 21 acres are available in total, and you may apply for one, two, or all three parcels. Land is not currently served by any utilities. Applications for a 4-year license are due by 3pm on July 15th. Priority will be given to historically underserved farmers and those working towards the MA Local Food Action Plan.

The Census of Agriculture, which only takes place every 5 years, is crucial for understanding what regional farming looks like, where funding needs are, and more! If you have never received an Ag Census or have moved to a new mailing address since 2017, you'll need to sign up by June 30th to receive this brief form. If you've previously received the ag census at your current address, there's no need to act yet – you can expect it in your mailbox by November. All farms who grow or raise more than $1,000 of produce or animal products annually should complete the ag census, regardless of acreage. Reach out with any questions!

The Commonwealth is currently conducting a MA Climate Change Assessment based on community input to identify the most prominent impacts of climate change across the state. The results will be used to inform the State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan, which will be updated in Fall of 2023. It is crucial that the assessors are aware of climate impacts for farmers, farmworkers, and farmland!

SEMAP has been present in several listening sessions but we also need you to make your voice heard on how climate change has been impacting or will impact you and your business in the future. Please complete the state's 10-minute survey to share your thoughts! It is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Russian, Khmer, Arabic and Cape Verdean Kriolu.

Despite being only the first day of summer, we've already seen temperatures in the 90s here in Southeastern Massachusetts. As we all prepare for a potentially very hot summer, it's important to keep worker safety in mind. Farmworkers are more vulnerable to heat-related illness than any other industry worker.

Our friends at Pasa provide tips on identifying the warning signs, adapting practices to accommodate extreme heat, and mitigating risks. Read more and watch a webinar recording here.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is surveying BIPOC farmers nationwide to document the experiences of BIPOC farmers' efforts to find funding and analyze the barriers encountered along the way. After evaluating this survey data, they will produce a toolbox that will help BIPOC farmers access these funds more successfully. The survey, which will be conducted via Zoom, will take about 1.5 hours, so participants will be compensated with a $200 gift card for their generosity in a busy time of year!

The Southcoast Food Policy Council (SFPC) is a convening of approximately 300 community partners across Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth counties who represent facets of the local food system. All food system players are welcome to join public meetings! Leadership meets monthly with Food Equity Advisors – residents of southeastern MA who have lived experiences with food insecurity, care deeply about their neighborhoods, and want to increase local food access.

Currently, Food Equity Advisors represent Fairhaven, Fall River, and Taunton. The SFPC is hoping to team up with five additional advisors from across Southeastern MA. Participation is at-will but the SFPC hopes advisors will serve at least a one-year term. A $50 stipend is offered per meeting attended. Reach out to sfpc@marioninstitute.org or call 508-748-0816 ext. 110 for more information!

Due to unexpected renovations of their historical barn space, a local farmer is in need of long-term barn space for their sheep and lambs for the fall and beyond. They show sheep at fairs, as well as sell meat, fiber, and blankets at regional farmers' markets and fairs. They must to be close to the Bridgewater and Hanson area.

If you would like to be connected with the farmer to discuss details, please email Shannon at shickey@semaponline.org.

Eligible customers will begin receiving Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and WIC coupons in the coming weeks. Be sure you are prepared to accept them, if possible! Learn more about your market, farm stand, or market booth's eligibility to accept these coupons.

If you need support understanding your eligibility, certifying or re-certifying, or submitting your coupons for reimbursement, please reach out to us or MDAR. Contact Shannon at shickey@semaponline.org OR Rebecca Davidson at rebecca.davidson@mass.gov or (857) 202-7699.

SEMAP maintains a Local Food Jobs page on our website! You'll find local food and farm job listings relevant to Southeastern Massachusetts. Here are a few picks currently on the page. Want to share a listing? Email info@semaponline.org.

Greenhouse & Garden Manager at Gilded Tomato Company in Rehoboth

Urban Farm Director at Boys & Girls Club of Metro South in Brockton & Taunton

Full-Time Field Crew at Brookwood Community Farm in Canton

Consider registering as a SEMAP Business Member. Membership with SEMAP helps us continue to provide promotion and technical assistance to farmers across Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond.

Business members receive a host of benefits, including...

Membership is available at several levels. Come join us!