Making Farming Accessible

Making Farming Accessible

Holly Rippon-ButlerLand Access Program

DirectorNational Young Farmers

Coalition

Suzanna DenisonLand Access Coordinator

WNC Farm Link

Matt CoffayFarmer

Second Spring Market Garden

For young farmers, by young farmers!

NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION

Policy Wins• Full funding for the Beginning

Farmer & Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)

• Permanent FSA Microloan Program

• Farm Storage and Facilities Loan Program

• Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)– “The purposes of the program are

to…protect the agricultural use and future viability…by limiting nonagricultural uses of that land”

Debt makes it difficult to access capital to start or grow farm businesses

More than ¾ of farmers who took our survey didn’t come from a farming background

1850 1911 1918 1925 1932 1939 1946 1953 1960 1967 1974 1981 1988 1995 2002 2009 $-

$500.00

$1,000.00

$1,500.00

$2,000.00

$2,500.00

$3,000.00

$3,500.00

Farm Real Estate Values, 1850-2015

Year

Val

ue, $

/Acr

e

Land around urban areas is where market opportunity is greatest, but also where land is

most expensive

Retiring farmers need to recoup equity, which is often stored in their business or land.

Retirement, kids’ college funds, healthcare…

• 70% of farmers under 30 rent land

• In 2007, 29% of land in farms in the US was owned by non-operators (in some regions this number is more than 30%)

• Farming on leased land often means that farmers are not secure, have limited opportunities for housing, and cannot build equity

Suzanna DenisonLand Access Coordinator

www.wncfarmlink.org

“In the next 20 years, 70 percent of the nation’s farmland will change hands. Farmers do not live forever, and most

farm kids do not choose to carry on the family business. An eager generation of young Americans is motivated to farm but, they need land and few will be

able to secure it without help.” - Lindsey & Benjamin Shute, “Keeping Farmland for Farmers”; NY Times 9-30-2013

Keep Farmland in Farming

Barriers for Young FarmersLong term leases are

difficult to findShort term leases

most easiest way to farm entry, but risky

Lenders don’t understand new farm business models

Limited collateral and assetsA Way of Life Farm – Bostic,

NC

"I just don't see myself being able to buy land. What farmland there is in our area, it’s very, very expensive. If you're not independently wealthy or not inheriting

family land, how do you come about finding a farm?” – Joe Evans of Paper Crane Farm in Mars Hill, NC

Farmers Need Land

Suzanna DenisonLand Access Coordinator

info@wncfarmlink.org(828) 785-4284

wncfarmlink.org

WNC Farm Link

Funded by:

WNC Farm Link Partners:

AlleghanyAsheAveryBuncombeBurkeCaldwellCherokeeClayGraham

HaywoodHendersonJacksonMaconMadisonMcDowellMitchellPolkRutherford

SwainTransylvaniaWataugaWilkesYancey

WNC Farm Link Serves:

Farm Plan

Farm Search Success

Desire to Farm

Gain Farm Experience Secure Farm Tenure

Stages of Land Access

Access for what?• Appropriate resources for farm enterprise?

What’s around? School district Farm services Proximity to markets

Room for growth? Property resources Local real estate market

For how long? Gaining skills v. establishing business

How secure is it? Long-term lease, ground lease, ownership Ability to build equity

Self-Assessment Checklist

Database of interested landowners and farm seekers

Vet potential matchesGuide and facilitate landowners

and seekers toward successful land arrangements

Connect both landowners and farm seekers with appropriate resources

Collaborate with regional partners

Create land access guides, tools, workshops, and other resources

How does it work?

Business Planning Online, one-on-one, course (e.g. AgPlan) Free or fee-based

Finding Farmland Evaluating land (local knowledge, beyond soil maps, Co-op Ext.) Farm linking or listing Developing a secure lease (sample templates available)

Financing / Accessing Capital Owning v. leasing Grants, loans, micro-loans, investors, partners, CSA members,

community (e.g. Kiva Zip)

Resources

Legal Assistance (business structure, contracts, transactions) National (Farm Commons, National

Ag Law Center) Ask around for an ag-friendly attorney

Insurance (farm, commercial, product liability) Find an ag-friendly insurance agent/company Ask other farmers for references

Managing the Business (accounting, record keeping, tax considerations) Online resources One-on-one Training

Mediation / Dispute Resolution (landowner-tenant conflicts / family transition)

Resources

Recent Successful Partnerships and Matches:

Farm Seekers: “Your farm linking services were very helpful during our farmland search. After looking at one or two land listings through WNC Farm Link, we had a much better understanding of what the land prospects would be like in Western North Carolina. The land listings also did a good job outlining specific property attributes and aided us in what to look for in a farmland listing. The land access coordinator was very helpful in gathering land information and bridging the gap

between us and landowners.”~Adron Dell’Osa

Recent Successful Partnerships and Matches: Landowners:

“As far as our experience working with WNC Farm Link, I am so grateful for all that this program does.  We really liked the farmer we were set up with last year.  The land access coordinator was 100% supportive every step of the way.  She came out to our farm herself several times with potential renters.  As a land owner, I am very grateful for the help, and feel that WNC Farm Link is a wonderful service to the community.”~Diana Stone

Recent Successful Partnerships and Matches:

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Incubator Farm

WNC Farm Link Testimonials:“We are really appreciative of WNC Farm Link. The land access coordinator was very helpful in encouraging us to lease land while in the beginning stages of our farming career. She connected us with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy incubator farm, where we are currently leasing the land for our market garden. Because of our initial positive experience, we anticipate using Farm Link again in the future to purchase land.”~Matt Coffay and Casara Logan of Second Spring Market Garden

What is a Land Trust?• Public / private• Non-profit• Focused on resource protection• Local, state, regional, or national• Conservation, agricultural, community, or

water trust• Purchase property /easements

• Land trust movement – long history, increasing in popularity in the 1970s

• Over 1,700 land trusts in the US

Where Are Land Trusts?

Toolkit for Working with a Land Trust(1) Reducing the cost of land ownership through easement purchase

• Prior to purchase• At time of sale• After purchase

(2) Finding and acquiring land• Landowner matching & networking• Leasing land (lease-to-own, ground lease,

incubator farm)

(3) Services & support• Employment• Land transfer counseling• Purchase price advice• Supporting the local food economy

What You Should Not Expect From a Land Trust

• Lending you money (some offer bridge loans)

• Answering technical questions

• Working outside their mission

• Working beyond their capacity

• Working on projects that are too small

What is an Easement?• Protects land by limiting

future use• Bundle of sticks• Agricultural vs. conservation

easement• Funds can be used to reduce

cost of land purchase or to pay down mortgage, invest in business, etc.

• Potential tax benefits

How Land Trusts Can Help Make Farmland Affordable

Talking to a Landowner about

Easements------------------

(1)Introduce the idea

(2) Put the landowner in touch with the land trust

(3) Suggest developing a purchase agreement and lease-to-own arrangement

• Public grant money

• Community fundraising

• On-farm events

• Major donors

• Foundations

• Revolving loan fund

Funding an Easement

Keep In Mind• All changes must be run by the land

trust• The terms of the easement don’t change

easily• Perpetuity – will affect your heirs; think

long-term• Potential loan impacts• Talk to advisors• Be willing to be flexible and patient• Natural resources: water, minerals, oil

and gas

• Leasing land– Ground lease– Incubator Farms

Lease-to-own• Finding land– Knowing what’s for

sale– Networking– Land linking

programs• Purchase price

advice

Other Ways of Working with a Land Trust

• Land transfer facilitation

• Employment

• Educational programs

• Lease intermediary

• Supporting the local food economy

Examples

Tips for Reaching OutDo your researchMake contactBe specificBe convincingGive a personal storyPresent a business planHave your financials in lineHire a lawyer(?!)

Land Access StrategyIdentify your position & your next steps Start nowCast a wide netRegular, scheduled communicationStrive for consistent progress – be

realistic and set goalsPatience, (honest) planning, &

persistence

Download the Guide:www.youngfarmers.org/

farmerlandtrustguide

• 2,000 sq ft• “The Market

Gardener” and “The New Organic Grower”

• Business plan based on market research

Our Story

• Traditional outlets unsuccessful

• Working with WNC Farm Link

• Land Access + Access to Capital (FSA Microloan) = Small Farm Success

Finding Land

Building beds

• Assistance with access and infrastructure

• Pros / Cons

Working with Land Trusts

• Specialty crops• Looking for permanent

land• USDA FSA loan options• Farming as Public

Service• Permanent market

presence

The Future

Engaging with Farm Policy

FARMERS ARE VOTERS!

NYFC’s campaign to add farmers to the Public Service Loan

Forgiveness Program

Launched Fall 2014

#FarmingIsPublicService

Why This, Why Now?

• Win champions in Congress

• Engage farmers to tell their stories

• Create media hype

Our Model• Young Farmer Leadership (Board, Staff, Local)• Grasstops: building relationships with key decision

makers through our D.C. office• Grassroots: mobilizing our network to take action

– Rely on local leaders– 3 regional offices

26CHAPTERSIn 25 States

Campaign TimelineSpring 2014• Internal strategy, fact

finding, policy context, begin having conversations on the Hill

Summer 2014• Survey opens, beginning

of larger conversation with our membership, campaign design

Winter-Spring 2015• Build support, raise

awareness, & work with congressional champions

Fall 2014•Campaign Launch!

Summer-Fall 2015• Building support in House• Targeted grassroots action• Fly-in, congressional

hearing, in-district meetings, op-eds

• Working on introducing Bill in Senate

June 2015• Young Farmer Success Act

(H.R. 2590) introduced in House!

• Report released• Sign-on letter sent to

Congress

735Respondents

to Survey9

Congressional Co-Sponsors

(6 Dems/3 Republicans)

7In-District Meetings

In 5 States

1 Congressiona

l HearingFarmer testified before

Senate Democrats

75+ References to

Campaign in the Media

18 Farmer D.C.

MeetingsIncluding one with

USDA!

Get Involved!• Ask your representative to

co-sponsor the Young Farmer Success Act

• Visit our website:– youngfarmers.org/

studentloans– Farmingispublicservice.org

• Set up a meeting with your Congressperson, write an op-ed, etc…

• Spread the Word!

Join the movement atyoungfarmers.org

Land AccessHolly Rippon-Butlerholly@youngfarmers.org

Policy & CampaignsEric Hanseneric@youngfarmers.org

Workshops to Further Explore These Themes

SATURDAYWorkshop B: 10:30am-12:00pm• Panel: Tales from Beginning Farmers: The Lomax Experience

Workshop C: 2:00pm-3:30pm• New Opportunities for Funding Your Food & Agriculture Business: From

Crowdfunding to Venture Funding

SUNDAYWorkshop E: 9:00am-10:30am• Panel: An Agripreneur’s Guide: Leading Best Practices for Growing Your

Food Business• Scaling Down Acreage Without Scaling Down Profit

Workshop F: 10:45am-12:15pm• Whole Farm Planning for Beginning Farmers