Our Good Work, Summer 2025

From the Executive Director

It's the busy growing season! We extend our gratitude to the farmers who grow our food and steward the land. We know that while farmers are strengthening their communities, they continue to struggle with cancelled federal contracts and financial uncertainty.

And farmers continue to ask for our help every day. We've been sharing how actions at the federal level directly impact farms and farmers — and those who serve them. As an update, we too have recently had contracts terminated for educational projects planned for the next two years.

Our team remains committed to advocating for secure funding that honors farmer contracts and federal programs that support sustainable farming.

We need your support in advocating for farmers! Every year Congress allocates billions of dollars for USDA programs through an appropriations bill. This year’s bill is currently under consideration, and the House version does not adequately fund essential programs farmers rely on in our region. We encourage you to contact your House Representatives and urge them to oppose the House’s FY26 appropriations bill and support the Senate's proposed funding levels instead. 

You can also take action by responding to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins' announcement to dramatically reorganize the USDA. Read the implications in the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's comment on the reorganization and reductions made earlier this year. To ensure that USDA is best positioned to serve our farmers, ranchers, producers, and rural communities, please send your thoughts to USDA by August 26th via their public comment period.

It's a busy season for us too! Read more in this issue:

• Grow with peer networking
• Take advantage of funds to help with farm succession planning
• Find many free farm leasing resources & templates
• See what's happening in your state
• Read about our impact during this challenging year

Our field staff remain eager to help farmers and landowners across New England. This spring, we introduced our new field staff in Maine and Connecticut, Sylvie and Freedom, who are also now readily available! Contact us.

But we can’t do this work without you! There are lots of ways to show your support for farmland security and keeping land in farming. You can donate now, become a monthly sustaining donor, join as a business sponsor, or make your land available for a farmer. Help us secure a future for farming in your community.

Thank you for your continued support.

With gratitude,

Shemariah Blum-Evitts

Executive Director

Peer networking initiative for service providers

In an effort to strengthen farmland access support across the Northeast, we are launching a peer network for early-career agricultural service providers who are currently providing, or want to provide, farmland access support to farmers.

To shape this initiative, we are asking providers to complete this survey by August 22nd to help us tailor programming to your needs and priorities. We plan to host monthly drop-in sessions virtually for peer networking and learning, with topics ranging from land tenure basics to financial readiness to "soft skills" like mediation and dealing with power dynamics. We are working in collaboration with Farmland for a New Generation New York, Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association, and New Entry Sustainable Farming Project to develop this network and offer space to connect, share, and learn.

Watch our social media channels for dates and registration!

Funding provided by Northeast USDA Regional Food Business Center (RFBC) and other general supporters of Land For Good. While funding from RFBC was terminated as of September 15th, Land For Good and partners believe in the value of strengthening this network and will continue this offering.

Funds available now to help with farm succession planning

Are you unsure who will take over your farm? Have questions about passing on the farm that you don’t know how to answer? If you need individual assistance with a farm transfer or farm succession planning, we offer no-cost coaching and planning support.

Our field agents provide one-on-one advising to help farmers start, continue, or complete their farm succession plan. Thanks to funding from Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, our team can help you clarify goals and next steps, develop a farm transfer plan, build your team of advisors, and obtain educational resources. If necessary, we can also help you identify or recruit a farm successor, and work with you, your family, stakeholders, and/or successor toward a smooth transition. Sign up now for fall and winter planning!

Funding provided by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LNE23-471: Viable Working Farmlands: Succession Planning, Advising, and Education for New England Farmers.

Get in touch through our Farm Transfer Form, or call 603-357-1600.

Free farm leasing resources & templates

Equitable, long-term leases can be key for farmers getting started or expanding their operations. Newly curated online resources are available to help craft or improve a lease.

If you own property that could be used for agriculture, inherited a farm, or retired from actively farming your property, leasing your land to a farmer can be a win-win strategy with proper planning.

Farmers, landowners, and the land, benefit from good farm leases. Clarify your goals and expectations with these helpful guides, templates, factsheets, tutorials, and other resources.

Find resources for Leasing Farmland.

See what's happening in your state

New Hampshire: The recently released New Hampshire Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan was the result of 18+ months of work and collaboration from over 89 food system organizations, including Land For Good, and hundreds of individuals deeply committed to New Hampshire’s food system. The Plan is the first of its kind in New Hampshire and will serve as a roadmap toward positive change in the state’s food and agricultural system, streamlining our collective efforts to obtain funding, develop programs, pass policies, and build networks to increase farm, fish, and food business viability and foster equity across our food system. Read more

Vermont: Get your farm business in shape this summer with help from the Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program. They work with farm, food, and forest businesses to navigate the complexities of running a successful business through in-depth advising from experienced professionals to help you improve your business skills, plan for the future, and recover from weather-related disasters. If you’re noticing some kinks in your business systems, opportunities for record-keeping efficiencies, or the need to explore new enterprises, visit VHCB.

Rhode Island: Do you own or manage land? Have you ever considered leasing a plot of your land to a farmer? Join a free workshop for landowners on August 19th from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. at Ocean Hour Farm in Newport. “Unlocking Your Land’s Potential: Leasing Land for Agriculture” will explore how private landowners can make their property available for farming, whether it’s a small vegetable plot, livestock pastures, or large crop fields. New farmers struggle to gain secure and affordable access to the land they need to launch and maintain viable farms. The challenge is particularly acute in Rhode Island, which has the most expensive farmland in the country, putting purchase prices out of reach for many beginning farmers. Hear from landowners and farmers who will share real-world experiences. Register now

Good work in action!

We have provided over 215 cases of direct service and support to farmers, landowners, and service providers to advance farmland goals so far this year — and extended education and resources to over 2,225 individuals.

Just this summer, four farms that we advised accessed new land or improved their tenure and farm businesses, resulting in more than 70 acres continuing in farming. Additionally, two landowners completed farmland transfers to new owners with our facilitation, resulting in 2,895 acres maintained in agriculture. Watch our good work in action.

We couldn’t do this work without you.

Donate now, or see the many other ways you can show support.

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