AUGUSTA — “In the next decade, more than 400,000 acres of Maine farmland will transition in ownership, raising the question: what will happen to that land?” said Erica Buswell, vice president of programs for MFT and co-host of the fourth annual Farmland Access and Transfer Conference, in a news release.

“To ensure this farmland stays in production, all of us must find a way to support land transition with programs that help farmland owners and make land available and affordable for farmers.”

This year, the conference will begin with a group of storytellers sharing stories from their field.

Carrie Whitcomb, of Springdale Farm, is currently working on navigating her own family succession situation for their Jersey and Guernsey dairy farm in Waldo.

Stacy Brenner, of Broadturn Farm, will share her story of securing farmland in Scarborough. She is a mid-career farmer who is already beginning to consider and plan for her succession.

BrennaMae Thomas-Googins, of Patch Farm, will share her story of successfully establishing access to land in Denmark.

Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) and Land For Good will host the Conference, Dec. 3, at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta. At the day-long conference, farmers will learn strategies for tackling succession planning and incorporating an easement into your farm access or transfer plans, plus how to find and secure farmland of your own, negotiate a good lease agreement, and more.

“Nearly 30 percent of New England’s farmers are likely to exit farming in the next 10+ years, and nine out of 10 of them are farming without a young farmer alongside them. At the same time, access to land remains one of the biggest challenges for beginning farmers in New England,” said Jim Hafner, executive director at Land For Good and co-host of the conference, in the release, referring to a recent study (Gaining Insights).

“While this does not mean that these farmers don’t have a succession plan, it does suggest the future of many of these farms is uncertain,” he said.

Today’s farmers — both those who are transitioning out of farming and those who are starting new farm enterprises — will have a pivotal role in shaping the future of our regional food system. Farmers can also make valuable connections at this conference.

Last year, the conference brought together more than 150 established and beginning farmers, landowners, and agricultural service providers.

“The issues, strategies and skills shared at this conference have relevance far beyond Maine,” said Hafner.

This is the largest conference in the region focused solely on land access and transfer, according to the release. Across New England, older farmers are worried about their ability to retire and find a younger farmer who can afford to buy their land.

The conference is geared toward farm seekers, retiring farmers, and land owners to help them better understand the options, resources, and steps to accessing or transferring farms or farmland.

Service providers and other advocates, including land trusts, conservation commissions, town planners and lenders with an interest in fostering affordable farmland access can also benefit from strategies and innovative practices, as well as panel discussions.

Other conference presenters include local farmers and service providers working on the ground in Maine, as well as experts from around New England.

Exhibits and networking opportunities will be available throughout the day.

The conference is hosted by Maine Farmland Trust, and Land For Good. Sponsors include American Farmland Trust, and The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) and Maine Harvest Credit Project. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.

The deadline to register is November 28, 2018. Cost of attendance is $20 per person and includes a lunch sourced from local farmers and producers.

For more information or to register, go to mainefarmlandtrust.org/access-2018.

Maine Farmland Trust

Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) is a member-powered statewide nonprofit organization working to protect farmland, support farmers, and advance the future for farming. Since its founding in 1999, MFT has helped to protect over 55,000 acres of Maine’s precious farmland, and supported over 500 farming families with critical services. More at mainefarmlandtrust.org.

Land For Good

Land For Good (LFG) is a New England-wide nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure the future of farming in the region by putting more farmers more securely on more land. With field agents based in and serving all New England states, LFG educates, consults, innovates and advocates with and for farm seekers, established farmers, farmland owners, and communities.

LFG is the only organization of its kind nationally with a sole focus on farmland access, transfer, and tenure. More at landforgood.org.