Program areas at Maine Farmland Trust
Farmland protection permanently protected Farmland through acceptance of donated agricultural conservation easements, purchase of agricultural conservation easements, and purchase, protection, and resale of farms. This period, mft completed 8 land protection projects, protecting 856 acres of land.
The stewardship program is responsible for monitoring protected Farmland to ensure that the conservation values of the property are protected forever. This period, mft completed annual easement monitoring for 281 easements.
Farmland business planning directly supported farmers with business planning, offering training and technical assistance to farmers. This period, our farm business planning program served 58 farms businesses through workshops, technical assistance, and grants.
Farmland access collaborated with external partners to address systemic and individual Farmland access and transfer challenges. Operated farmlink, which matches prospective farmers with landowners that have farms available for lease or sale. This period, our farmlink program assured that 92 acres of transitioning Farmland remained in farming through farm links to new farmers. (247,569 expenses) climate and soil health organized a peer-to-peer network of Maine farmers that supported farms protected with an mft easement in building soil health through on-farm research, education and technical expertise, and financial support. This period, technical assistance was delivered to 46 farm businesses participating in our climate resilience programming. (164,926 expenses) pfas response directly supported farmers affected by pfas by providing education, technical assistance, and grants to support farms affected by pfas. Approximately 26 farms were directly supported during the period. (80,652 expenses) policy & research worked on federal, state, and municipal policy issues that affect Maine farms, and engaged in those policy areas that directly impact our ability to protect Farmland, support farmers, and advance the future of farming. Conducted research and prepared reports and articles to inform mft's policy work, support other mft program areas, and educate policymakers and the public about issues affecting Maine agriculture. (304,212 expenses) education & outreach provided workshops, presentations, regional meetings and displays at agricultural and related events to present both general and technical information about mft's work. Hosted a variety of events to increase public awareness about farming's needs and opportunities, including film showings, food events, art exhibits, etc. (363,097 expenses)