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 55