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INVESTIGATOR: Ruhf, K.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
Land For Good
29 Center Street
Keene, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03431

ACCESS TO LAND FOR NEW ENGLAND`S BEGINNING FARMERS: PHASE 2

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Access to land is one of the biggest challenges for beginning farmers in New England and nationally. For our region's agriculture to thrive into the future, land must be available, affordable, secure, equitable and "findable." The long-term goal of this project is for more New England beginning farmers to successfully access land to farm in order to start or expand their farm businesses. The Land Access Project, Phase 2 follows from a previous 3-year initiative led by Land For Good (LFG). In this project, LFG, its partners and 40 collaborating organizations and agencies will enable over 2,000 farmers to access land or achieve more secure tenure.Our project goals are:Beginning farmers are better prepared to access land to farmMore farms are transferred by exiting farmers to beginning farmersBeginning farmers are better able to find and evaluate farm properties and connect with landownersProfessionals and farmers have new information about innovative land access approaches and methodsStronger programs help new and other farmers access land and improve the conditions for farmland access in New England.Coordinated teams and task forces will produce curricula and conduct educational activities such as over two dozen workshops, a "Succession School," and leasing clinics. LFG will "coach" beginning farm seekers and transitioning farmers. We will improve farm link programs and increase their use. We will produce new tools including an online "build-a-lease" tool and model legal language for farmland-related transactions. We will promote gradual transfers between farmers without successors and entering farmers. Experts will investigate innovative and best practices, including alternative land financing and affordable farmer housing. With partners, we will organize and host a national conference to share learnings and build land access and transfer programs to help beginning farmers access land in all regions.

OBJECTIVES: The major goals of this project are:1. Beginning farmers (BFs) have more knowledge, information and skills to access land or improve land tenure Objectives are:A) Educate 700 BFs about land access strategies and options; B) Empower over 1,000 BFs to make informed land access decisions; and C) "Coach" 100 BFs to access land to farm.2. Farms are more effectively transferred to beginning farmers. Objectives are:A) Develop new farm succession planning resources for 2,000 users; and B) Educate, empower and support at least 50 farmers to plan for succession.3. BFsidentify farm properties and connect with landowners. Objectives are:A) Double farm listings and improve the usability of farm link services; and B) Increase visibility and use of farm link services.4. Service providers help beginning farmers with new information about land access innovations. Objectives are:A) Educate 1,000 professionals about farmland access innovations; and B) Produce and distribute at least 4 land access best practice resources to 600 BFs.5. Stronger programs assist beginning farmers to access land in New England and nationally. objectives are:A) Educate and train at least 360 BFs through state teams; and B) Build the knowledge, skills and networks of at least 400 professionals to deliver land access and farm transfer services in the region and nationally.