This year, the program awarded $954,850 in funds to support 117 farmers in New England

Now in its fifth year, the New England Farmer Microgrants Program (NEFMP) continues to address key barriers faced by farmers in the region, including access to land, farm succession and land transfer planning, and adopting regenerative agriculture or soil health practices on livestock operations. In its first year, the NEFMP funded 40 awardees. Five years later, a total of 351 awardees have been funded with just over $2 million awarded since the program began. Nearly half of that amount – $954,850 – was awarded in 2024 alone.

The NEMFP provides funding under two grant programs: the Western New England Regenerative Livestock Farming Grant (RLF), and the Farmland Access, Succession, and Transfer Support Grant (FAST). This year, $855,000 was awarded to 95 farms through the RLF. To date, this grant has awarded over $1.6 million to livestock operations in 23 specific western New England counties, supporting projects that facilitate regenerative agriculture and improve soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat. 

Farmland Access, Succession, and Transfer Support Grants (FAST) provide direct financial assistance to farmers for projects that facilitate farmland access and acquisition, succession, or transfer. These include farmland purchase or leasing transaction costs, consultant and attorney fees, surveys, appraisals, and agriculture conservation easement fees. This year, just over $99,850 was awarded to 22 farmers in Maine, Rhode Island, and the 9 eastern counties of Massachusetts through FAST grants.