Home - Searching For, Assessing, and Acquiring Land
Access to land and farming infrastructure is a fundamental component of establishing a farm business. It is also one of the largest and most pressing challenges facing new farmers. Preparing for a land search, conducting a land search, and assessing farmland are all necessary components of successfully establishing tenure on a piece of farmland.
Resources
General Resources Related to Land Access
- Beginning Farmers.org
- Northeast Beginning Farmers Project, Cornell University
- Vermont New Farmer Project, University of VT
Resources Related to Preparing for a Land Search
- Acquiring Land to Farm (PDF) Guidebook, Land For Good
Resources for Assessing the Agricultural Potential of Land
- Evaluating Land and Facilities for Farming, Northeast Beginning Farmer Project video
- Evaluating Land Tutorial, Cornell University
- Farm Evaluation Worksheet, Land For Good
- Soil Testing, University of Maine Cooperative Extension video
- USDA-NRCS Soil Data
- Evaluating Water Needs – Maine’s Agricultural Water Management Program and USDA’s Energy Estimator for Irrigation
- Talk with other farmers in your geographic area to assist with land assessments
- Engage a private agricultural consultant to assist with land assessments
Resources Related to Tenure Arrangements
- Farmland Leasing Tutorial, Land For Good
- Acquiring Your Farm – Leasing, Land for Good
- Acquiring Your Farm – Ownership. Land for Good
- Sustainable Farm Lease Landowner’s Toolbox, Drake University
Resources for Conducting a Land Search
- Farm Search Worksheet, Land For Good
- Maine FarmLink, a program of Maine Farmland Trust (207) 338-6575
- New England Farmland Finder
- Maine Multiple Listing Service
- Land and Farm
- Farm Flip
Finding a Real Estate Agent or an Appraiser
Finding a Lawyer
- Maine State Bar Association Lawyer and Information Referral Service 1-800-860-1460
Who to Contact for Direct Assistance
- Coastal Enterprises, Inc or call 207-882-7552
- Farm Credit of Maine or call 207-784-0193 (Auburn) or 207-764-6431 (Presque Isle)
- Land For Good or call 1-603-357-1600
- Maine Farmland Trust or call 207-338-6575
- Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA) or call 207-990-9100, Ext. 3
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension or call 1-800-287-0274
- USDA Farm Service Agency or contact your local FSA Service Center
Publications
- Holding Ground: A Guide to Northeast Farmland Tenure and Stewardship—a publication of New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI)
- The Greenhorns Mini-Compendium (PDF) on the topic of Finding Sustainable Land Tenure – Cornell
- Six Ways To Secure Farmland – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA)
- Sample Lease Agreements (PDF) – Land For Good
- Testing Your Soil – University of Maine Cooperative Extension Bulletin # 2286
- Interpreting Soil Test Results for Commercial Crops – Maine Soil Testing Service, University of Maine