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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
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 [email protected]
Policy & CampaignsEric [email protected]
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