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What's New
The previously announced Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) Grant Round has been suspended due to shortfalls in the state budget. As the state of New Hampshire faced a $250 million deficit due to the economy, the LCHIP program will return the general appropriations funding to help the state fill the budget gap. Current grant commitments will still be met due to the dedicated deed recording fee. The timing of future grant rounds will be based on revenue from the recording fee. Created in 2000, the LCHIP program is the primary source of state funding for farmland protection projects.
Focus on New Hampshire
 August 3-9 is New Hampshire Eat Local Week—prime time for residents to celebrate New Hampshire farms while buying local food grown in the state. “NH Eat Local Week encourages people who are just discovering or getting interested in obtaining more of their diet locally to explore local foods and sources,” says New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture Lorraine Merrill. “For more advanced local-eaters, it’s a chance to engage in a little friendly competition to ratchet up their local food quotient.” The NH Eat Local Week challenge card and Web site suggest three levels of commitment that participants can strive for to increase their consumption of fresh local foods.
The New Hampshire Virtual Farmers’ Market offers consumers an on-line opportunity to order and arrange delivery of local farm products year round. The virtual farmers market coordinated by the NH Farm to Restaurant Connection which partnered with the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food, UNH Office of Sustainability Programs, Farm Credit Service and NH Made, gives consumers around the clock, one-stop shopping for New Hampshire meats, dairy products, baked goods, maple, condiments, beverages as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables. Detailed searches based on product, farm name, or even town name gives results based on the over 60 farms and food businesses listed.
More Focus on New Hampshire
New Hampshire Policy Update
Legislation enacted this year in New Hampshire and Vermont will mean changes to how farmland is taxed. In New Hampshire, House Bill 1442 provides additional tax relief for agricultural buildings and certain forest buildings at the option of a municipality. If adopted by a town, the measure allows agricultural buildings to be assessed at their replacement cost less depreciation and the land beneath the building to be assessed at 10 percent of its full market price. In Vermont, Senate Bill 311 broadens the state’s current use assessment by allowing the enrollment of wetlands, rare or exemplary natural communities, riparian buffers, vernal pools, and significant wildlife habitat.
The New Hampshire Farm Viability Task Force submitted its final report in 2006. Appointed by Governor Lynch, the task force was charged with studying and making recommendations to improve the viability of agriculture in New Hampshire. Key recommendations include:
- A substantial increase in state funding ($3 million) for agricultural conservation easements.
- Development of a Farm Viability program modeled on existing programs in Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont.
- Creation of local agricultural commissions.
In addition the report proposes: increased funding for Extension and UNH education and research; increased direct-marketing opportunities; enhanced regional cooperation in support of the dairy industry; and relief from burdensome state regulations.
FederAl Farm Policy and The Farm bill: what’s in it for New Hampshire ?
Energy and environmental policies are a priority for President Obama’s Administration. At the heart of these issues lies American farmland. Agriculture can be part of the solution if the correct policies are enacted. Read our 9 for ’09 policy recommendations and ask President Obama to engage agriculture in these critical issues.
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The Apple as Planet Earth
Do you know how much of the earth is suitable for farming? Watch this short animated presentation and learn why protecting our farmland is so important.
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Contact Us
New England States Office
1 Short Street, Suite 2
Northampton, MA 01060-3952
(p) 413-586-9330 (f) 413-586-9332
Cris Coffin
New England States Director
(p) 413-586-9330 ext. 29
ccoffin@farmland.org
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