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Every year, America loses 1.2 million acres of farmland - an area twice the size of Rhode Island - much of it our best and most productive farmland near where most Americans live. In Massachusetts and across the nation, AFT is a vital link between farmers, conservationists and policymakers, working to protect the best farmland , direct growth away from agricultural resources, provide healthy local food to all citizens, and help communities sustain local farms and farming.
What's New
U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern and Chellie Pingree spoke about prospects for farm bill programs important to the Northeast in a two-webinar series we hosted with Wholesome Wave, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group and New England Farmers Union. One webinar looked at conservation programs, including potential changes and funding cuts to the federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program and the future of the regional equity provision. The other covered prospects for helping to rebuild local and regional food systems. Speakers also included senior staff to Senator Patrick Leahy along with New Hampshire Agriculture Commissioner of Agriculture Lorraine Merrill and Massachusetts Commissioner of Agriculture Scott Soares. Recordings of the webinars, along with more information about the farm bill, are available at farmbillfacts.org.
Another year has come to pass and with it a list of successes—and challenges—impacting farms and food across New England. 2011 was marked by unusual weather, underscoring theneed for effective policies and programs to keep farms thriving despite the inherent risks and to help support strong local food systems.
This year, we worked with a wide variety of partners throughout New England to promote the critical importance of farms and farmland to New England’s economy, environment, public health, community character and livability. Here are a few highlights from our work across the region. Read more about our accomplishments from the past year in New England and see a snapshot of what lies ahead.
Farm Transfer Training Through New England Land Access Project
 Do you help farm families address farm succession and transfer planning? If so, you may be interested in a training being offered on November 17 by the Farm Transfer Task Force of the Land Access Project. The training is intended to guide farm transfer planning practitioners through best practices, planning approaches and challenges, use of farm transfer planning teams, and farm transfer planning resources in the region. For more information or to register for the workshop, visit the Land For Good website.
Looking for Land Trusts Engaged in Farmland Protection
 Are you a
land trust protecting farmland within a 100-mile radius of Boston
or New York City?
If so, the Connecticut-based 1772 Foundation is looking to help you. The
foundation is offering grants to land trusts for three general purposes:
land protection; capacity building, including membership building, planned giving
programs and training; and internal revolving loan funds to cover transaction
costs. In addition to meeting the geographic criteria, land trusts must have a
primary interest in farmland protection and have adopted the Land Trust Alliance’s
Standards and Practices. Letters of inquiry are due by February 12,
2012.
 New Courses for Current and Aspiring Massachusetts Farmers
The
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is offering three different
agricultural business courses for established and aspiring farmers this winter.
The courses include an Explorer course for those thinking about getting
into farming or expanding from a hobby farm into a commercial enterprise; Planning
for Start-Up aimed at those ready to plan their commercial enterprises; and Tilling the Soil of Opportunity for those who have been farming at least
two years and need to create a comprehensive business plan. The courses will be
offered from January through March of 2012.
Celebrating the Community Preservation Act in Boston
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) has been instrumental in helping Massachusetts communities protect farmland and other open space. On September 27, we joined other advocates at the State House in Boston to celebrate the act’s 10th anniversary and encourage lawmakers to act on House Bill 765, which allows communities that have adopted the CPA to continue to receive an annual minimum distribution of state matching funds. We recognized 10 individuals who have been significant contributors to the success of the program, including Bob Wagner, our Senior Policy and Program Advisor, who has been deeply involved in efforts in his home town of Hatfield, Massachusetts, and around the Pioneer Valley.
 We recently welcomed Leah Mayor to our New England Office, where she will serve as the Working Lands Alliance Project Director and New England Project Manager. Mayor brings an extensive background in education and community leadership, as well as experience with sustainability initiatives focused on food and agricultural systems. Her work has focused on leveraging enthusiasm of a growing local foods movement to protect farmland, natural heritage and artisanal traditions. Mayor is also the founder and principal of Taking Root, an ecotourism initiative devoted to stimulating local economies, building community viability, and celebrating our connections to food and culinary history. Please join us in welcoming Leah!
 The No Farms No Food® message was well received by lawmakers at the recent “Ag Day” held at the Massachusetts State House. These days represent key opportunities to celebrate agriculture and highlight the importance of farmland preservation to lawmakers.
On April 7, we met with Massachusetts lawmakers, reminding them how important our farms and farmland are to our economy, environment, and food security. We were excited that Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard Sullivan highlighted Governor Patrick’s continued commitment to funding for farmland preservation, and that Governor Patrick used the day to announce appointments to the new Massachusetts Food Policy Council—which has been a high priority for us.
Read the 2011 Agriculture Day Legislative Priorities [PDF]
Over the last 12 months we have been involved in some exciting projects that are helping to revitalize New England’s food system, improve our agricultural economy, and protect and retain our vital farmland. Read a few highlights from 2010
To help determine what land is and is not being protected through the Massachusetts Agricultural Preservation Restriction program, we teamed up with the Massachusetts Farm Bureau to survey Farm Bureau members. More than 90% of the respondents had not applied for the program in the past five years. Land ineligibility; concern over program changes or possible constraints on the land once enrolled; and a sense that the program is unable to pay what the restriction is worth were among the top reasons farmers shied away from the farmland preservation program. These and other research findings will be presented to the state Agricultural Lands Preservation Committee in late November.
 Find More on MA's APR Program at our MA Farmland Protection Tools page.
Massachusetts Policy Update
We recently joined legislators and other organizations to testify in support of changes to the Community Preservation Act, the Commonwealth’s program that supports community-level land protection, affordable housing and historic preservation efforts. The proposed legislation would ensure that participating communities receive at least 75 percent of what they raise locally in state matching funds. The Community Preservation Act has been a critical source of supplemental funding for farmland protection projects in Massachusetts by helping communities raise the money needed to protect more than 38 farmland parcels through the state’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction program.
FOcus on Massachusetts
A Northeast grocery chain has become the first retailer to join forces with the New England Dairy Promotion Board and New England Family Dairy Farms Cooperative to bring the concept of “fair trade” milk to consumers. Hannaford's 71 stores will promote the benefits of local dairy farms—including stewardship of the region’s farmland—and offer shoppers an opportunity to directly support dairy farmers through the “Keep Local Farms” dairy campaign. Cris Coffin, American Farmland Trust’s New England Director, is excited by the Hannaford announcement: “Educating shoppers about the value of our region’s dairy farmers will hopefully encourage them to donate to the campaign and help farmers receive a better price for their milk.”
Contact Us
New England Field Office
Cris Coffin, New England States Director
1 Short Street, Suite 2
Northampton, MA 01060-3952
(p)413-586-9330 ext. 29
(f)413-586-9332
ccoffin@farmland.org
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Massachusetts’ Community Preservation Act Needs a Boost 
