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Greetings! Despite this New England deep freeze, we haven't slowed down or missed a beat in our work for famers. Your response to our year end donor appeal (topping 2013), and institutional grants puts us in a strong position for 2015. Thank you.
This issue features several upcoming events for farm seekers (MA), farmers planning for succession, and for landowners and farmers to connect (NH); an exciting grant opportunity for farmland owners in Berkshire County (MA); and more farm properties on New England Farmland Finder. Also read about farmers we've helped who are In The News.
New projects (to be featured in upcoming issues) range from supporting immigrant farmers (ME) to investigating new farmland investment models (VT). We're also training real estate professionals, facilitating state policy dialogue, and supporting organic farm succession. Read more about our projects. All this thanks to our collaborators and funding partners!
Reviewing 2014 showed that we gained more ground than ever for farmers in New England. LFG Field Staff directly assisted over 350 farmers, landowners, and professionals, and we reached another 1000 through our workshops, mixers and presentations. Our work and the people we helped were in the news more than ever, and landforgood.org saw a 65% user increase.
Our work with farmers and landowners in New England addresses a critical (but often invisible) challenge facing our farm sector and food system: passing on farmland and working farms to a new generation of farmers in a way that provides security for exiting and beginning farmers alike. Our food security depends on the land security of our farmers.
In my new role as Executive Director, I've continued to focus on building a stronger and more responsive organization, and publicizing our good work (see last week's Keene Sentinel). I'm so grateful for the opportunity to help steward this important work along with Kathy, Andrew, our Board and a growing team. But we need your support.
Please help by sending us feedback and ideas, spreading the word, and making a donation.
Thank you for your support.
Jim Habana-Hafner
Executive Director
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 Deadline Extended for Berkshire County Grant Program |
 The Berkshire Farmland Initiative launched a fund to which farmers and landowners may apply to support their farmland-related plans and transactions. Applications are now due on or before February 28, 2015.
The John P. Farkas Fund will offer grants up to $2500 to help defray the costs of professional services associated with:
- Farm transfer and succession planning
- Farmland protection
- Selling or leasing farmland to a farmer
- Farm business planning associated with any of the above.
The John P. Farkas Fund is administered by American Farmland Trust, in collaboration with Land For Good, Berkshire Grown, The Carrot Project, and Sheffield Land Trust. LFG participation is funded by in part by a grant from the Lawson Valentine Foundation and our donors.
Get your application now!
John P. Farkas Fund grant guidelines
A second grant round of funding will be offered with applications due by July 31st.
Learn more about Berkshire Farmland Initiative.
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Searching for Farmland?
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 | | Searching for farmland? |
Join us at a local Farmland Access Info Night or Farmer Mixer to learn how to find and analyze land, where to look, what to watch for, and tools to help, as well as land tenure options, lease language, and positioning yourself as a lessee. And check our resources online for farm seekers.
Southeast Massachusetts Farmland Seeker Forum
February 23, 2015
at 3:00pm
Bristol County Agricultural High School
Dighton, MA
Registration required
Monadnock Farmland Access Info Night & Farmer Mixer
March 23, 2015
6:00 - 8:00pm
Hannah Grimes Center
Keene, NH
Register by email
Monadnock Farmland Access Info Night & Farmer Mixer
March 24, 2015
6:00 - 8:00pm
Cutler Memorial Building
Jaffrey, NH
Register by email
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Keep Farms in Farming with Helpful Planning |
 | | Keep farms in farming. |
Over 70% of our private farmland will change hands in the next 20 years. Farm transfer is a critical issue for thousands of farm families in New England and nationally. Planning ahead is critical to the future of your farm and your legacy especially if you want to keep your farm in agriculture after you retire AND meet your financial needs. If you want to pass the farm on to a younger family member or if you need to find a farmer outside of your family to continue farming when you retire, learn how to best address your needs.
Join us at one of these Farm Succession Planning Workshops. And check our resources online for farm transfer planning.
Farm Succession Planning Workshop
March 5, 2014
6:00 - 9:00pm
East Bay Met School, Newport, RI
Register by email
Farm Succession Planning Workshop
March 7, 2015
10:00am - 3:00pm
Piscataquis County, ME
Register online
Farm Succession Planning Workshop
March 14, 2015
8:00 - 10:00am
Essex County, MA
Full breakfast will be served.
Register by email
Farmland Access & Transfer Workshop March 21, 2015 at Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference, Worcester Technical High School, Worcester, MA.
Register online
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"Thanks to Land For Good we were able to craft a secure lease to start our farm. You don't have to own land to be a farmer!"
- Kate & Kevin O'Dwyer
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Have you seen?
How we keep working farms working. 
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Help us gain ground
Land For Good is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization supported by grants, fees, and your generous donations.
Please donate now to help gain ground for farmers and keep farmland in farming!
Thank you.
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Where to Find Us
LFG staff host mixers, workshops and training across the region, typically with local or regional partners. We are also frequent speakers, panel organizers or moderators at other local, regional and national events. Check our website.
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Interested in a workshop or training for your group or community? Contact us
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New England
Farmland Finder
New properties listed every week. Search over 80 farm properties now available. Recently posted:
Kingston Place (Benson, VT) 307 acre certified organic farm is one of the premiere farms in VT
Phillips Farm (Damariscotta, ME) mid-coast farmland hay land with transition into other farming uses given expansive fields and good soils. Includes farmstand.
Rolling Acres (Jefferson, ME) 120 diverse acres of pasture with soils suitable for mixed use farming, a small, restorable apple orchard, and an extensive lake front with sandy beach.
This site connects farm seekers and owners of available farm properties.
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Farm Seeker Tools
Check out our Farm Seeker Toolbox for resources and tools about acquiring farmland, planning a search, drafting a lease and more! Many free downloads to point you in the right direction.
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