Farmer Update: April 2023
Dear Farmers and Food Producers:
Photo at Bristol Aggie in Dighton
Greetings, and welcome to another issue of SEMAP's Farmer Newsletter. We are excited to with you more exciting updates as we dive deeper into spring and the farming season takes hold. Coming up next week, we'll be wrapping up our Farmer Social events with an evening at Soule Homestead in Middleboro on Thursday, April 27th! This event is open to all, but will have a special focus on farm workers and beginning farmers.

Once that wraps up, however, we'll be right back to work as we kick off our Twilight Grower Series on May 4! We'll be at E.L. Silvia Farm, learning all about orchard care, pruning and pest management. Keep up with all of our upcoming events and announcements by following us on Facebook and Instagram, and bookmark our Events Calendar for more info.

In this email you'll find information on:

  • Our upcoming events
  • Grant and award programs for food producers
  • Farmland available for purchase
  • Other educational events and workshops
  • A few asks from fellow farmers
  • Local farming jobs
With gratitude,

Shannon Hickey (she/her)
Program Manager
(781) 908-4466
Join Us for Our Final Spring Farmer Social Next Week!
Our Farmer Social series has been a great success so far, and you won't want to miss this last event! Socials are a great opportunity to gather with fellow farmers, connect with service providers, and share in great food and drinks! Join us on Thursday, April 27th from 5-7pm at Soule Homestead in Middleboro. This event will feature resources for beginning farmers and farmworkers, but all are welcome to attend!

Farmer Social events are all FREE but registration is helpful. Drop in for as long as you'd like!
Twilight Workshop Series Begins May 4th!
SEMAP is also excited to kick off our Twilight Workshop series for 2023! Twilights are a great opportunity to connect with farmers during the growing season, and learn on-farm skills from other local growers! Our first event will take place on Thursday, May 4 at E.L. Silvia Farm! Together with RI Cooperative Extension, Ed Silvia will demonstrate apple orchard pruning, then talk through pests, diseases, and orchard best practices. We hope to see you at this FREE hands-on workshop! All are welcome, regardless of experience.
We are currently putting together the rest of our Twilight schedule for the year, which you can keep track of on our Twilight Series webpage. We already have details for our second event, Wash-Pack Best Practices at Langwater Farm, posted now, and you can register for that event today as well!
Grant Funding Available
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!

  • Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP): To provide business planning, technical assistance, and grants to commercial farms to improve farm viability and to preserve and support the stewardship of agricultural resources.
  • Deadline: May 1st

  • APR Improvement Program (AIP): To provide business planning, technical assistance, and grants to commercial farms with land that has already been protected through MDAR’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program.
  • Deadline: May 1st


  • Farmers' Market Promotion Program (FMPP): To support the development, coordination, and expansion of direct producer-to-consumer markets to increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products.
  • Deadline: May 2nd
On March 21, MDAR grant managers held a webinar to cover details around several upcoming grants, including those above with May 1 deadlines. You can view the recording of that session here.
REMINDER: SEMAP can assist Southeastern Massachusetts farmers in grant applications. We can help you determine your eligibility, walk through the application together, review before submission, offer a letter of support, or any combination of these! Apply for assistance here or email Shannon at shickey@semaponline.org with any questions.
COVID Relief Payments for Farmworkers & Meatpackers
Beginning this month, frontline farmworkers and meatpackers who incurred expenses preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for a one-time $600 relief payment from the federal government, distributed through several non-profits. There is no cost to apply, relief payments will not be taxed, and immigration status is not part of eligibility criteria. H2A workers are eligible, too!

We recommend applying for this payment through our friends at Pasa, where the application is offered in English and Spanish, but a complete list of non-profits distributing these payments can be found here. Please share this opportunity with your farm crews! Anyone having trouble completing the application can reach out to shickey@semaponline.org or (781) 908-4466.
Farmland Availability in Dighton
A 13-acre piece of farmland is currently available for sale in Dighton. Formerly Mendoza Farm, this plot is equipped with several greenhouses, as well as a 1,200 sq ft home on-site. All structures will need a little bit of TLC, but this is a wonderful property in a farm-friendly location. It's just minutes away from Bristol Aggie and Route 24, and it is in a Right-to-Farm town.
Thank You for Joining Us at Ag Day!
Last week, SEMAP marked Massachusetts Agriculture Day by visiting the State House, connecting with partners and legislators, and bringing the issues facing farmers and agriculture across the state front and center to our state Senators and Representatives. This was a tremendous opportunity to speak to the needs of SE MA farmers and push for important changes in policy to preserve Massachusetts Agriculture.

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us, especially our local farmers. We are excited to see so many of you engaging with state and local policy as it pertains to agriculture, and hope to continue to work with you on these issues going forward. Look out for updates from us on upcoming advocacy opportunities, as the new Joint Committee on Agriculture prepares to hold hearings next month, followed by a series of regional listening sessions across the state.

You can also join the Campaign for HIP Funding at the State House again next month for HIP Lobby Day on Tuesday, May 9! The Campaign is advocating for $24 million for HIP in the fiscal year 2024 budget. HIP usage is expected to continue to grow as families struggle to afford food, and it is essential that the program have enough funding to meet demand. HIP is more critical than ever with the end of federal emergency allotment SNAP and high inflation affecting low-income households’ budgets. Register Here>>>
Virtual & Hybrid Workshops for Food Producers
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Tuesday, April 18 – Online Crop Production Course – 6-7:30 pm: This 8-week online course covers essential topics related to sustainable crop production, enabling participants to grow food while caring for the soil at the farm or in the garden. 

Friday, April 21 – NRCS Statewide Local Working Group on Farm Bill –9:30a.m-12pm: This meeting is an opportunity to provide input to NRCS on natural resource issues and management strategies, build engagement for Conservation Districts, and provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to make their voices heard. Following brief presentations from the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts and NRCS, meeting participants will be divided into breakout rooms organized by county for discussion of natural resource issues.
In-Person Workshops for Farmers & Food Producers
April-May - APR Listening Sessions - 5:30-8 p.m., Statewide - MDAR is continuing their series of in-person APR listening sessions across Massachusetts. Remaining events will be held in Amherst, Danvers, and Littleton. Sessions begin at 6, with registration opening at 5:30.

Sunday, April 23 – Soil Health for Spring Planting – 10am-12pm, Grafton, MA: Global Village will be hosting a PPLT supported workshop on Sunday, April 23rd with the incredible Ulum Pixan & Anna Gilbert-Muhammad. A potluck will follow and an event run by Migrant Justice on Farmworker Justice Organizing.

Saturday, April 29 – Greenhouse Production CRAFT Visit – 4-6pm, Newton, MA: Join EMassCRAFT Farmers at Newton Community Farm for a discussion on greenhouse growing ahead of the season!

Thursday, May 4 – Risk Management Agency Listening Session for Specialty Crop Growers – 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Goffstown, NH: The Risk Management Agency (RMA) of USDA is hosting a series of listening sessions to discuss the potential for a weather index program for specialty crop growers.

Thursday, May 4 – Apple Orchard Pruning, Disease and Pest Maintenance - 5-7 p.m., Dighton, MA: Join us for another event in our Twilight Grower Series, this time at E.L. Silvia Farms in Dighton! We hope to see you at this FREE hands-on workshop! All are welcome, regardless of experience.
Bristol Aggie Spring Expo Returns Saturday, May 6
Join Bristol Aggie for their 8th annual Spring Expo, featuring the Floriculture and Landscape Design & Contracting departments PLANT SALE, with shrubs, veggie seedlings, flowers, and more!

The vendor market is back, in partnership with SOAM (Southcoast Open Air Market), as well as student sales and fundraisers. Enjoy live music from Donnelly and Carmichael from 10AM-1PM.

Spread the word, and come buy something fun for Mother's Day!
The Food Project Spring Institute Coming Soon, May 4-6
For over thirty years, The Food Project has operated at the intersection of youth development, sustainable agriculture and community-building. Through their Institute training events, they share their methods and models, history, and the learning they’ve done to create nationally recognized youth development and farming programs.

The next Institute will take place from Thursday 5/4/23 to Saturday 5/6/23. The Institute aims to create a tight-knit learning community over the three days. We immerse the group in as many facets of The Food Project as possible, visiting sites in three cities and towns where The Food Project works in both urban and suburban settings, and offering a full day of immersion into the organization’s youth programs. Participants will have the opportunity to meet numerous organization staff members (across all program areas) and youth participants. 

You can view the full agenda, cost and more details on their website now, where you will also find the link to register (also available through the button below)!
Land Leasing Asks from Fellow Farmers
Several farmers across Eastern Mass are looking for land sharing or lease opportunities! Sharing space with a fellow farmer can bring a host of benefits, including shared equipment, diversified market offerings, and more. Please get in touch with these farmers directly if you might be the right partner for them!

  • Shady Corner Farm is looking for 5-10+ acres of land on a certified organic farm to expand their compost business. They are open to Eastern MA broadly, but prefer a 45-minute drive from their current land in Sherborn. The property should be accessible by vehicles, or you should be open to creating accessibility. Shady Corner is willing to enter a short or long-term lease. Looking for easy access to finished compost? Email Grisha at gmaziya@gmail.com if you might be interested!

  • A local beekeeper is looking for space to set up three bee hives within a 1.5-hour drive from Quincy. He prefers a site using organic practices for the health of his bees. He will need year-round access to the property and will purchase his own liability insurance. Looking for pollination services or think you could be the right fit? Email Tom at localgoodfarm@gmail.com.
For more workshops, webinars, and other opportunities, check out our event calendar!
Farming Jobs
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.
Program Coordinator at Massachusetts Farm to School – Based in one of several New England cities (hybrid)
Farm Crew at Aeonian Farm in Westport
Become a SEMAP Member
Membership in SEMAP helps us continue to provide promotion and support to farmers and consumers across Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond.

Members receive a host of benefits, including...
  • Premium Space in Vine Newsletter
  • Discounts to events like the Ag & Food Conference
  • Special member listing in our Local Food Guide
  • Dry-erase "Buy Fresh Buy Local" price cards

Membership is available at several levels for businesses and individuals. Come join us!
PO Box 80625,
S. Dartmouth, MA 02748