Farm Viability & Land Conservation: A Natural Partnership Saving Special Places April 7, 2018
Introduction John Hamilton NH Community Loan Fund Jeremy Lougee Southeast Land Trust Ian McSweeney Russell Farm & Forest Foundation Charlene Andersen NH Community Loan Fund
Strengthening Working Lands in New Hampshire Agriculture Production Farmer & technical assistance Business Viability Business & technical assistance Conservation Viability Easement development & training Innovation The intersection of all three, actively participating in unison Prepared by New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust, Russell Foundation, 7/2014
Goals Understand why farm viability matters to conservation and the specific benefits Understand ways to support sustainable and viable farms in NH Learn what is possible and what has been done in the partnerships between farm viability groups and conservation
Farm Viability New England New Hampshire s Approach Farm Credit East NH Community Loan Fund Land for Good NH Food Alliance
Keep Conserved Farms Viable & Profitable Bohannan Farm/Contoocook Creamery Charlene & Ian
Bohannan Farm 5 th generation Over 400 acres Conservation easement (2009) protects agricultural soils & working forest Rivers Flood zone Public trail system
Operations with milk cows 650 350 200 75 Number of small, family dairy farms in the U.S. 1970 1980 1990 2006 Operations with milk cows
Commodity Dairy Contoocook Creamery Partnership with Ag lender & Alternative lender Next Generation Control Operations Grow markets
Return Lands to Local Farming Harriman Farm Jeremy & Ian & Charlene
Why Conserve Harriman Family Farm? Proposed +/-205 acre conservation easement SELT Campaign: Farmland for the Future Town of Durham s southern gateway and rural character* +/- 67 ac of open fields 15 ac Prime, 50 ac Locally Important Ag Soils Significant wildlife habitat NH Coastal Plan Focus Area Wellhead Protection Area 35 acres in flood zone Fallow farmland with potential
Harriman Family Farm Durham s Southern Gateway
Why Conserve Harriman Family Farm? Proposed +/-205 acre conservation easement SELT Campaign: Farmland for the Future Town of Durham s southern gateway and rural character* +/- 67 ac of open fields 15 ac Prime, 50 ac Locally Important Ag Soils Significant wildlife habitat NH Coastal Plan Focus Area Wellhead Protection Area 35 acres in flood zone Fallow farmland with potential
Harriman Family Farm Durham Conservation Funding Sources: NRCS-ALE (farmland) NRCS-WRE (forest/wetlands) LCHIP Private foundations (1772, others?) Great Bay Protection Partnership Private fundraising private solicitations, SELT Campaign Bridge loan
Attempted for 2+ decades (multiple organizations) Challenging family dynamics prevented deal Appraisal values didn t meet family expectations 13+ heirs sold property to one individual in 2012 = simplified with 1 owner Large lien held by heirs > required immediate action
Heirs attorney threaten foreclosure (or immediate payment) Land for Good & Russell Foundation contacted SELT New Hampshire Community Loan Fund stepped in to bridge gap > conservation deal secured Is this land conservation outcome enough?
Conservation Easement and Farm Viability Considerations Future opportunities? livestock, veggies, etc? Easement drafted for max flexibility & potential ag models Building envelopes & Exclusion areas Outdated infrastructure > may replace in future
Proximity Conservation Easement and Farm Viability Considerations UNH/direct markets Long term public or community benefit? Other resources and discussions to strengthen farm business/viability New farmer attended UNHCE ANRBI classes
Take Aways: Have we saved the farm? What is the long term community benefit? Can we do more to support farm viability?
Keep Conserved Farms Viable & Profitable Temple Wilton Community Farm Ian & John
Wilton 140 acres Farmland Conservation easement Farmstead Historic preservation
protected by ownership - agricultural land trust & local nonprofit 99-year lease tenure to farm
Conserved - 68 acres farmland, buildings & infrastructure Secured by farm for farming through a high risk lease with private developer Russell Foundation lead project campaign donations & community investments address farm viability & profitability local nonprofit secure and equitable tenure to the farm
Return Lands to Local Farming Wingate Farm Ian & Charlene
54 acre Hinsdale Farmland protected by a Conservation easement Farm protected by an Option to Purchase at Agricultural Value (OPAV)
Farming supported by flexible lending technical assistance support services to facilitate equitable generational transfer staggered transfer of farm use and land rights supported farm viability for both operations
Russell Foundation developed a holistic project that addressed: farmland farm farming Multi-dimensional collaboration: land conservation farm preservation property transfer farming transition stewardship of the ecosystem
Thank You