Farmland Tenure: A Tool Kit

Farmland Tenure: A Tool Kit

Summary

In 2007, California FarmLink (CFL) concluded work on the project. The emphasis was on continuation of research and facilitating development and implementation of various land-tenure models for small-scale farmers; presenting findings at three statewide conferences; and preparing a final publication. Several land-tenure projects moved forward with individual farmers as a result of work on tenure acquisition strategies that other family farmers can use as models for their efforts to secure tenure. California Farm Link has written case studies using these farm-specific projects for the “Farmers Guide to Securing Land,” formerly entitled the Tenure Models Handbook. CFL continued to advance development of policy options that will facilitate land tenure for farmers by working with representatives of other farm link organizations and partner groups. The project team collaborated with organizers of three key statewide conferences offered in the first 3 months of 2007 to ensure that project findings will be reported and model strategies described per the original proposal.

Objectives/Performance Targets

As proposed and approved, original project goals and objectives are listed below.

Goal 1: Increase knowledge of trends in land-tenure arrangements utilized by California farmers.

Goal 2: Assist at least 500 farmers and ranchers in developing long-term land-tenure agreements by providing a clear, concise guide to land-tenure options.

Goal 3: Provide key decision-makers with policy options for increasing long-term tenure opportunities for beginning farmers.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Goal 1: Increase knowledge of trends in land-tenure arrangements utilized by California farmers.

The draft report has been prepared and is being mailed to Western SARE. distributed

The research data have been compiled and summarized as part of Chapter 2 of the publication “Farmers’ Guide to Securing Land.”

Goal 2: Assist at least 500 farmers and ranchers in developing long-term land-tenure agreements by providing a clear, concise guide to land-tenure options.

Work on the handbook moved forward with the development of practical tenure models and associated legal documents needed to implement them (i.e. leases or easements). Project team members continued to write case studies and other aspects of the handbook. Due to the long duration of the project, some partners originally expected to assist with peer review were substituted by other colleagues of the project team. However, the project team worked closely with qualified individuals who assisted with preparation or review of key documents. These include John Davis, a land-use and contracts attorney with Northern California Legal Services in Sacramento and Brian Rianda.

Key models we researched, developed or implemented included: leases with an option to buy; sale of a conservation easement as part of a farm succession plan; and a transfer of farming rights.

Steve Schwartz, the project leader, made presentations on findings at the Ecological Farming Conference, the California Farm Succession Conference and the Small Farm Conference to develop workshops where FarmLink presented information from the Land Tenure project and tool kit. Farmers assisting in the project or being highlighted in case studies were part of panels at all three conferences. These are the three key statewide educational conferences offered to California farmers and ranchers in 2007. They are located in the major farming regions of the Central Coast and Central Valley in order to be accessible to family farmers. All three conferences were held during the first 3 months of 2007. The conference sessions and panels organized as part of this project ensured that findings are reported and model strategies described per the original proposal. Combined attendance at the three conferences is approximately 2,000 individuals. California FarmLink also presented information on land tenure developed as part of this project at 5 other events. In total 361 farmers and ranchers attended California FarmLink organized workshops on tenure in 2007.

Goal 3: Provide key decision-makers with policy options for increasing long-term tenure opportunities for beginning farmers.

A summary of the findings from this research was compiled and included as part of Chapter 2 of the Farmers’ Guide to Securing Land publication.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The description of research and development of models under Milestones above illustrates how the project team has addressed actual challenges faced by beginning farmers/producers in such a way as to build a resource bank of case studies, legal documents and other materials. Through the publicaton on land-tenure options, the information we have gathered and the case studies will be available to small farmers throughout California. The larger impact on producers from the Farmers Guide to Securing Land, workshops and policy recommendations cannot be fully assessed at this time . However we expect that some of the findings will help to impact policies of the California Coastal Commission; the California State Government; and the federal Farm Bill.

Financial Narrative

We are prepared to request final payments for outstanding authorized funds. Match expenditures will be detailed in the Final report.

Collaborators: