NW Michigan Food and Farming Network Report to the Community 2015 Report to the Community | Page 60
Food and Farming network
Collaborative Research on Farmer
Access to Affordable Land
Northern MI sees
growth in new farmers
By Zane Schwaiger
Leelanau Conservancy
Increase in Farm Service Agency Beginning Farmer Loans
30
24
22
In 1999, a young farming couple
18
in northern Michigan started what
soon became a successful vegetable
12
farm on 40 acres of rented land.
12
Seven years later, after the farmers
6
had invested countless hours of work
into the soil and infrastructure, their
2
0
landlord decided to sell the property,
2008
2011
2014
and the farmers found themselves
looking for a new place to put down
Number of FSA Beginning Farmer Loans in NW Michigan
roots. Driving up and down back
roads, one turned to the other and
said: “Look at all this beautiful
Access Feasibilityin Northwest by a tenure. HowFarm Conference to
Growth Study” funded Michigan Small can we develop tools
farmland — and we can’t afford
help farmers find and afford the land
Rotary Charities Planning Grant in
1000
any of it.”
necessary to maintain their liveliMarch 2014.
960
These farmers are not alone in
hood and provide nourishment for
We set out to meet with partners
their struggle. The most pervasive
local communities?
and farmers in the region to deter750
and persistent challenge for enterOur research points to five main
mine the present and future need for
725
ing farmers is finding and affording
affordable farmland, and to research land access tools for further consid600
500
appropriate farmland to lease or
eration: farmer landowner matchnew and innovative farmland acown, especially in parts of northing programs; revolving loan funds;
cess programs across the country.
400
ern Michigan where land values
farmland investment groups; inBased on figures pulled from the
250
are particularly high. In an effort
novative land-tenure models; and
“Michigan Farm Succession Study,”
to determine how we can improve
specialized easements. We believe a
more than 695 farmers in northern
access to land for entering farmers,
combination of these tools, adapted
Michigan (Antrim, Benzie, Grand
0
2008 to the unique needs of our region,
2011
2014
a collaborative group (Susan CocTraverse, Leelanau, 2006
Kalkaska, and
ciarelli, MSU Center for Regional
could help a wide range of farmManistee counties) are over 65 and
Food Systems; Brian Bourdages, GT 83,466 acres of farmland will change ers find affordable land and secure
NW Michigan Small Farm Conference Attendees (Approximate Numbers)
Regional Land Conservancy; Tom
equitable lease and ownership
hands within 10 years.
Nelson and Zane Schwaiger, Leeagreements. The next step in our
Fortunately, we see an increase
lanau Conservancy; Bill Palladino,
work is to develop a “Farmer Access
in beginning farmers in northern
Food & Farming Network; Nikki
to Land” program model based on
Michigan and growth of the Young
Rothwell, NW Michigan HorticulFarmer and Local Foods movement, extensive input from our local
farmers.
tural Research Station; Rob Sirrine,
but if our new farmers are to be
www.leelanauconservancy.org
MSU Extension) began a “Farmland successful, they will need secure land
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