To address legal and financial risks of contracts and farmland leasing, this project helped beginning and experienced, small-to-mid-sized farmers in Massachusetts and surrounding states learn about farmland identification, acquisition, and develop strategies to address land tenure, financing, and asset management.
Beginning farmers and other farm seekers now better understand farm access, affordability, and tenure and how various land acquisition strategies affect business planning and profitability. Through extensive outreach, 4 regional workshops, 2 webinars, online self-study, and individual
technical assistance, 76 farmers completed land seeker applications, reviewed available properties, and received technical assistance to develop land acquisition plans, find and assess properties, and negotiate tenure arrangements.
New Entry’s interactive farmland map was expanded for land seekers. Project partners made farmer referrals, assisted with local outreach to identify and assess available land, and encouraged owners to make land available, including through succession planning.