Conserving Farmland in the Granite State: 1,813 Acres & Counting!
- Benee Hershon
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Since 2020, the NH Farm Future Fund has distributed over $372,000 to protect over 1,813 acres of land throughout the Granite State.
The mission of the NH Farm Future Fund is to provide funding for farm viability planning in concert with the conservation of important agricultural soils.
This program leverages the singular opportunity of putting a conservation easement on farmland to also invest in the future viability of the farm business. The goal of this fund is to ensure that farmland is conserved, productive, and available for future generations.
Learn more about past awarded projects and the impact of this program through our interactive story map, here!
Land trusts throughout New Hampshire that are working with farms to conserve their land are encouraged to apply by May 31st.
The NH Farm Future Fund is an integrated approach to funding farm viability, farmland conservation, and farmland access. Funding is available to support activities in two broad categories: financial assistance to offset costs associated with farmland conservation projects, and technical assistance to support farm business viability and succession planning.
The New Hampshire Farm Future Fund brings together land trusts and farms to conserve farmland, while improving the viability of farm businesses. Ensuring that the farm business will be viable also ensures that the land will remain in agricultural use! This is critical to supporting local food systems, food security, and local economies.
On this approach, Charlene Andersen of the NH Community Loan Fund shared,
“The collaboration of partners, land trusts and landowners has been instrumental in the projects to date. This model goes beyond just protecting the land, it is also protecting the future farmers as it provides more insight to long-term opportunities or challenges. The discussions between the partners, land trusts and landowners is the closest thing to a crystal ball as we can get. The support from funders has enabled the program to evolve, identify critical aspects and develop best practices. I see firsthand how the funders support has helped farmers develop confidence about decisions they are making during the easement process."
Land trust applicants should be committed to bringing together experts in land conservation, succession planning, and farm viability to advance the farm’s business goals. Eligible Applicants must be nonprofit tax exempt 501(c)(3) organizations that have land conservation as their primary function and are actively working to conserve farmland in the state of New Hampshire.
Prospective applicants must schedule their discovery meeting by contacting info@cheshireconservation.org.
Application materials are available at www.cheshireconservation.org/nhfff
The Farm Future Fund is a grant program that is privately funded and administered by the Cheshire County Conservation District on behalf of the New Hampshire Conservation Districts. Key partners in making this grant possible are the NH Community Loan Fund and Land for Good. Funding is provided by the You Have Our Trust Fund and the Madison Fund of the NH Charitable Foundation.
For further information, to discuss project proposals, or donations to the grant program contact: Benée Hershon at 802-518-0993 or benee@cheshireconservation.org
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