Succession Planning
Materials to help growers plan for their farm's future
Click here to download the Farm Transition Planning presentation from Jon Jaffe.
Click here to download the Estate Planning presentation from Attorney Sean Hagan.
Click here to download a succession planning brochure.
Workshop Recordings
MDAR’s Farm Pass Program
One-on-one assistance with farm transfer planners for up to one year at no cost.
Contact: Laura Barley
857-507-5548 - Laura.Barley@mass.gov
Land For Good
Helps farmers navigate the challenges of land access, tenure, and transfer. One-on-one advising and referral services provided to farmers at no cost.
Contact: Jae Silverman
603-357-1600 - jae@landforgood.org
MA Agricultural Mediation Program
MA Office of Public Collaboration provides a range of services for agricultural issues, including family farm transition, through this USDA-sponsored program.
Contact: Courtney Breese
617-287-4046 - Courtney.Breese@umb.edu
Legal Food Hub
Connects eligible farmers with volunteer attorneys who provide pro bono services related to farm succession planning.
Contact: Mary Egan
844-529-4769 - legalfoodhub@clf.org
BOG RESTORATION
There are programs available to compensate growers who restore bogs back to natural wetlands.
Contact: Grace Dooner
508-866-7878 - gdooner@cranberries.org
Cranberry Impact
Cranberries are native only to North America and southeastern Massachusetts is the birthplace of the commercial cranberry industry.
Cranberries are the No. 1 food crop in Massachusetts. The industry supports nearly 6,400 jobs and contributes an economic impact of $1.7 billion annual.
Cranberry growers farm more than 11,500 acres of cranberry bogs in southeastern Massachusetts. With 3-5 acres of support land for every acre of active bog, the cranberry industry protects 60,000 acres of open space.
Learn what's happening on cranberry farms this time of year:
Cranberry blossom season starts mid-June and growers hope for sunny days. Migratory and native bees pollinate the flowers and tiny fruit pin heads begin to form. With the warm weather, frost events lessen. Berries start to size in July and nutrients are applied to support the growing fruit. Growers irrigate as necessary and monitor for pests and rot. Cranberries will continue to grow in size and growers are monitoring for fruit quality. By late August the berries are starting to blush (turn red).