Photo at Paskamansett Farms in Dartmouth

With more than 25 speakers, a dozen engaging topics, and nearly 100 participants from our local farming community, our 15th Annual Agriculture & Food Conference was such a blast! Thank you to all of our speakers, to the many behind-the-scenes volunteers, and to everyone who joined us for this special day.

Missed it this year? Check out our resource page below, including recordings, recommendations for continued learning, and more! If you did not register, we greatly appreciate donations that help to keep this content publicly accessible.

Take a look at a few of the currently open grant, reimbursement, and award programs below, then check out a complete list on our webpage!

Several state grants meant to enhance farm viability and longevity are currently open, with application due dates of April 26th. A virtual information session will be held by MDAR on Tuesday, March 22nd at 7pm. Register for free here. Learn more about these state grants on our website.

Land owned by the Conservation Commission of Easton is available for lease. The property includes 5 acres of tillable land or pasture, a single family home, and a barn & milking parlor. Expectation of the lease includes modest repairs and maintenance of all structures. Proposals are due by March 28th.

Ten acres of farmland within a 23-acre parcel of town-owned conservation land is available in Duxbury for lease. Applicant must have been in business for 3 previous years. Except for a drilled well, no infrastructure currently exists. The lease term is 10 years. Proposals are due by March 31st.

Rosasharn Farm is offering approximately 1.5 acres of organically managed agricultural fields as a farm incubator this season. This opportunity may include resources such as the use of garden tools, on-site cool room, on-site farm stand and private one bedroom apartment.

If interested, please contact Anne at rosasharnfarm@gmail.com for more information.

Vendors certified within the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) must attend the annual HIP vendor meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, March 23rd at 11:00am. Register for this virtual event below. If you are unable to attend or send any staff in your place, please reach out to dta.hip@mass.gov to make alternate arrangements.

A meeting for SNAP CSA retailers will be held on Thursday, March 31st, and a help session for navigating DTA's HIP Finder will be held on Tuesday, April 5th. Neither of these meetings are mandatory. Get in touch with DTA for more information and to register.

As the state legislature negotiates next year's budget, be sure to make your voice heard in asking for increased funding for HIP. Our friends at the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative are leading the charge in demanding $20 million in funding for FY2023.

Have you heard about the state's Farmland Action Plan? In collaboration with UMass's Donahue Institute, MDAR is developing state-level goals and recommendations for the protection of farmland, the increased accessibility of land by farmers, and the enhanced economic & environmental viability of existing farms. It's crucial that they hear from all involved in the Massachusetts agricultural world, including farmers, farmworkers, aspiring farmers, and farm service providers. Complete their survey by March 31st to make sure your voice is heard!

Attention MA vegetable farmers! Gain new insights and see how your farm stacks up against your regional peers by taking part in CISA's Vegetable Farm Financial Benchmark Program. Financial benchmarks are a key tool for tracking changes in your farm's finances from year to year, assessing how your business is performing relative to similar farms, and making strategic farm business decisions.

Participating farmers will receive an in-depth personalized benchmark report showing how key financial indicators compare to those of similar farms. Your farm’s numbers will be kept confidential – only general trends, insights, and anonymized information will be shared. To take part, sign up for a virtual work session (Tuesday 3/22 at 5pm or Thursday 3/24 at 11:30am) below.

Edible Homescapes is a market garden and edible landscape designer new to the Westport area. Join owner Chris English on the farm on Sunday, March 27th at 1pm for a shiitake mushroom inoculation workshop! This hands-on workshop is a great opportunity to get to know a regional farmer, and is suitable for all skill levels.

You'll learn how to choose the right tree species, care for inoculated logs, and properly harvest & store mushrooms. All participants get to take home their own mushroom log! Admission is $40.

The Sustainable Agriculture Program at Bristol Community College is launching their new internship program, and they are looking for farms to host students. Students will take on internships lasting a semester during the Fall, Spring or Summer requiring 8-10 hours a week devoted to working within their desired field.

Farmers interested in this program are asked to make a free account through College Central Network, where you can post unlimited job and internship positions. This allows BCC students to find and apply to openings on your farm. Any questions can be sent to the Experiential Education Center by email or on the Fall River campus.

SEMAP maintains a Local Food Jobs page on our website! You'll find local food and farm job listings relevant to Southeastern Massachusetts.

Here are a few picks currently on the page. Want to share a listing? Email info@semaponline.org.

Food Hub & Food Access Manager at World Farmers in Lancaster

Field Worker and Kitchen Assistant at Round the Bend Farm in Dartmouth

Director of Horticulture at Green City Growers in Somerville

Consider registering as a SEMAP Business Member. Membership with SEMAP helps us continue to provide promotion and technical assistance to farmers across Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond.

Business members receive a host of benefits, including...

Membership is available at several levels. Come join us!