Berkshire Farm Futures Events
Planning for the Future of Your Farmland 2024
Great Barrington, MA: Thursday, September 5, 6:00 - 8:00 pm. The event will include speakers from Balsam Hill Farm, American Farmland Trust, Land For Good, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, MA Department of Agricultural Resources, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, Farm Credit East, and Gail Garrett Law.
Register HereThe Nuts-and-Bolts of Farm Leasing: Securing Access to Farmland in Berkshire County 2023
Dalton, MA: Tuesday, December 5th, 5:45 - 7:45 pm. The event included speakers from American Farmland Trust, Land For Good, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, MA Department of Agricultural Resources, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, Farm Credit East, Legal Food Hub, Conservation Works, and Three Maples Market Garden.
Planning for the Future of Your Farmland 2023
Adams, MA: Tuesday, May 2, 5:30 - 7:30 pm. The event included speakers from Square Roots Farm, American Farmland Trust, Land For Good, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, MA Department of Agricultural Resources, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, Farm Credit East, and Lazan Law.
Read the article!Planning for the Future of Your Farmland 2023
Dalton, MA: Tuesday, April 25, 5:30 - 7:30 pm. The event included speakers from Square Roots Farm, American Farmland Trust, Land For Good, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, MA Department of Agricultural Resources, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, Farm Credit East, and Lazan Law.
Strategies for Finding, Affording, and Securing Farmland in Berkshire County
November 2, 6:00pm – 7:30pm. This virtual workshop built off of the Oct. 19 Resource Roundup event, and was intended for Berkshire County, MA farmers or those seeking access to farmland in Berkshire County. Jae Silverman, MA Field Agent at Land for Good, led an in-depth tutorial on land access considerations and methods. Tina Smith, Western Massachusetts APR Program Planner at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, provided information about the state’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction program and considerations for accessing or farming on conserved farmland.
Watch the recording!Resource Roundup: Finding Farmland in Berkshire County
October 19, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Lenox, MA. This in-person workshop included introductory talks from agricultural service providers about land access and financing resources/services that their organizations provide to farmers, providing time for Q&A followed by a mix/mingle—an opportunity for farmers and resource folks to connect and peruse the resource materials table.
Planning for the Future of Your Farmland (2022)
On May 11, 2022, American Farmland Trust collaborated with Land for Good on its first farmer workshop in Berkshire County in a series of farmer workshops to take place over the coming years. “Planning for the Future of Your Farmland,” co-hosted hosted with the Williamstown Agricultural Commission, brought together 35 farmers and agricultural support organizations to share information about conservation options, farm succession planning, financial planning, and estate planning. The workshop featured speakers from Caretaker Farm, the Williamstown Agricultural Commission, Land for Good, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Farm Credit East, and Lazan Law. This workshop was part of a grant-funded collaborative effort between American Farmland Trust & Land for Good to enhance farmer education and outreach in Berkshire County. If you are a farm landowner interested in support with a farm transition plan, reach out to Land for Good.
Read the op-ed!