Farmland Links
In alphabetical order:
- American Farmland Trust
As the nation's leading advocate for farm and ranch land conservation, AFT works with communities and individuals to protect the best land, plan for agriculture and keep the land healthy.
Website: http://www.farmland.org
- Community Preservation Coalition
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a new tool to help communities preserve open space and historic sites, and create affordable housing and recreational facilities. This web site has been created to assist individuals and municipalities in understanding and implementing the CPA.
Website: http://www.communitypreservation.org
- Farms Forever
The goal of the Farms Forever program is sustain working farmlands, not just preserved land, and to enable new and next-generation producers to farm in our region through more effective farmland transfer and tenure arrangements.
Website: http://www.umassd.edu/semap/ff.cfm
- Farm Service Agency
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers and manages farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster and loan programs as laid out by Congress through a network of federal, state and county offices.
Website: http://www.fsa.usda.gov
- Farm Service Agency - Aerial Photography
Website: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/apfoapp?area=apfohome&subject=landing&topic=landing
- Forest Resources Specialist at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst
provide accurate information to woodland owners when they need to make two critical decisions: 1) the potential sale of timber and 2) planning for the future of the property.
Website: http://www.masswoods.net
- General Laws of Massachusetts
CHAPTER 61A. ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL LAND.
Website: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-61a-toc.htm
- Land for Good
Land For Good (LFG) is a nonprofit organization offering education and assistance to owners and managers of working lands and other land use decision-makers in the six New England states
Website: http://www.landforgood.org
- Land Trust Alliance
The Land Trust Alliance promotes voluntary private land conservation to benefit communities and natural systems. They are the national convener, strategist and representative of more than 1,600 land trusts across America.
Website: http://www.lta.org
- Land Trust Alliance - FAQ
This link through the LTA offers answers and explanations to frequently asked questions about the difference between land trusts and conservation easements.
Website: http://www.lta.org/conserve/faq.shtml
- Landlink
NELL is a program to help farmers and landholders locate and transfer farms in New England.
Website: http://www.smallfarm.org/nell/index.htm
- Massachusetts Department of Ag Resources - Toolkit
This toolkit is designed expressly to assist in the implementation of smart growth / smart energy. Many communities have successfully protected agricultural land using an array of financial and legal tools, which are outlined in this Toolkit module.
Website: http://www.mass.gov/envir/smart_growth_toolkit/pages/mod-ag.html
- Massachusetts Agricultural Commissions
Here you will find everything you need to know about Agricultural Commissions, from whom to contact with questions, to current events, how to start an AgCom in your town, and more.
Website: http://www.massagcom.org/
- Mass Department of Ag Resources - APR Program
The APR Program is a voluntary program which is intended to offer a non-development alternative to farmers and other owners of "prime" and "state important" agricultural land who are faced with a decision regarding future use and disposition of their farms.
Website: http://www.mass.gov/agr/landuse/APR/index.htm
- Massachusetts Department of Ag Resources
Links throught the state on how to organize a Town Agricultural Commission.
Website: http://www.mass.gov/agr/agcom/index.htm
- Massachusetts Department of Ag Resources - Farm Bylaws
The Department of Food and Agriculture is committed to agricultural retention of as many current acres of farmland as possible to maintain the agricultural lifestyle, providing the Commonwealth's people with nutiritous locally-grown food, and limiting suburban sprawl. When land that belongs to DFA isn't being used, our policy is to lease it to farmers whenever possible.
Website: http://www.mass.gov/agr/docs/farmbylaw.pdf
- Massachusetts Department of Ag Resources - Farmland Stewardship Program
Website: http://www.mass.gov/agr/landuse/stewardship/index.htm
- NESFI
New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI) is a land-based, non-profit organization. It was founded in 1978 by a local citizens' action group—Women in Agriculture, Food Policy and Land Use Reform—to encourage more sustainable regional agriculture. Its mission is to promote small farm development by providing information and training for aspiring, beginning and transitioning farmers.
Website: http://www.smallfarm.org/
- NRCS
Since 1935, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (originally called the Soil Conservation Service) has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources.
Website: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
- NRCS Soils
Soils is part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, an effort of Federal and State agencies, universities, and professional societies to deliver science-based soil information.
Website: http://soils.usda.gov/
- NRCS Websoil survey
Web Soil Survey (WSS) provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey.
Website: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/
- SEMAP Home
Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) was formed in 1998 to help the region's farmers and aquaculture operators navigate the many agencies and organizations that provide technical, business management, educational, or financial support to farming operations in the region, and to address assistance needs identified within the farming community. The Partnership began as a network of service providers that promote viable agricultural operations in the Southeastern Massachusetts region, which includes Bristol and Plymouth Counties, Cape Cod, and the Islands.
Website: http://www.umassd.edu/semap/
- Trustees of Reservations
The Trustees of Reservations preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts.
Website: http://www.thetrustees.org
Please contact McKenzie Boekholder with any farmland inquiries. She can be reached at (978) 654-6745 or by email at: mboekholder@comteam.org.
