From the desk of Gal Potashnick – Outreach & Member Services Director, Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust;

ACT and Bath farm recipient of first NH Farm Future Fund

Franconia – Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT) is excited to announce that in partnership with the Woods Farm in Bath, it has received funding from the new N.H. Farm Future Fund through the N.H. Association of Conservation Districts grants.

The mission of the N.H. Farm Future Fund is to provide funding for farm viability planning in concert with the conservation of important agricultural soils. This program will leverage the opportunity of conserving farmland and also invest in the future viability of the farm business. The goal of this fund is to ensure that farmland is conserved, productive, and available for future generations.

ACT will work with the Woods Farm to do conservation planning for the land, and marketing, production, and future planning for the beef business. Technical assistance for the business will come through the N.H. Community Loan Fund and Land for Good.

This is the first year of the NH Farm Future Fund. A total of $90,000 was awarded between five recipients including ACT. The other recipients are Southeast Land Trust of NH and Carlsen Farm in Farmington, Five Rivers Conservation Trust and Pletcher Farm in Merrimack, Upper Saco Valley Land Trust and Sherman Farm in Conway, Society for the Protection of NH Forests and Tuckaway Farm in Lee.

“We were proud to pilot this approach of joining land conservation and farm business sustainability when we worked with the Robie Farm in Piermont,” said ACT Executive Director Rebecca Brown. “This new fund, made possible through the generosity of private donors, will allow more farms and land trusts to do similar work. We’re honored be working with Dan Woods at his farm in Bath.”

Recipients of the N.H. Farm Future Fund will apply awarded funds toward offsetting the costs associated with farmland conservation projects, and for technical assistance to support farm business viability and succession planning. Selected farms from across the state will work in partnership with their local land trust and receive technical assistance through the N.H. Community Loan Fund and Land for Good to achieve their goals.

The Farm Future Fund is a grant program that is privately funded and administered by the Cheshire County Conservation District on behalf of the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts. This program grew out of collaborations fostered by the NH Food Alliance. For updates on the NH Farm Future Fund’s progress visit: www.cheshireconservation.org/nhfarmfuturefund. For more information about ACT’s work to protect farmland and support farm businesses, visit http://www.act-nh.org or call us at (603) 823-7777.

Contact:

Rebecca Brown, Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (603)728-5557

rbrown@act-nh.org