Thanks so much for your interest in Land Link. We are here to help you find a farmer to help grow the next generation of farmers in Montgomery County and beyond.
There are a few things to consider before you start your farmer search. So please read through this before you click on the application at the bottom of this page. None of this is meant to dampen your enthusiasm for finding a farmer, but going into a search with realistic expectations will ensure a more successful match.
- Take some time to think about your property and goals
Your land is your investment, perhaps your home and certainly your legacy. While getting as many new farmers growing as possible is the goal, it is worthwhile for you to take the time to think through your goals for entering into a land match. A great place to start is the free resources in the landowner toolbox at Land for Good along with a Drafting Lease Question Sheet. Many other resources are listed for landowners on the PA Farm Link site.
Things to think through:
– What is your vision? Is livestock a possibility, just table crops? Could a farmer offer field education events or an on farm market? The more open you can be the easier to find a farmer match but it is important to know what you are open to from the outset.
– Infrastructure: Is the area fenced? Can the farmer put up temporary fencing? Would you be willing to fence the area? (A fencing cost share grant from the county is here) Fencing is critical for a successful harvest or tending livestock. If you don’t have fencing the farmer will have to put some up to protect crops. Also – is there a place for a farmer to keep tools, use the bathroom, or store products?
– Water – can the farmer draw from your well/ household system/pond? How much? If that is not possible a mobile water system can be an option. All but the smallest acreage will require an irrigation system to be laid out.
-Relationship with the farmer- Do you want to be involved in the farm at all?
Land Link staff would be happy to come out and look over your property to help you think through possibilities. Get in touch at landlink@mocoalliance.org
2. How much to charge in rent? (Hint: it’s not a supplemental income)
While land lease prices vary widely it is important to know that between a one-a few hundred dollars per acre per year is typical. This may sound low, understand that new farmers are often from under resourced backgrounds and there are a large number of expenses to starting a farm other than lease payments. Factoring in use of well water, municipal water, equipment, installation of fencing etc is also important to be sure resources used by the farmer are covered. Some landowners offer their land for free or a very reduced rate – it is still of top importance to get a lease in writing. More on setting rent rates here.
If you are considering offering housing as part of the land lease, it may be best to do two different leases – one for housing and one for land.
3. A Land Link search is not a guarantee of finding a farmer.
While we will connect you with farmers seeking land there is no guarantee that you will find a match through Land Link. Much like a dating site, we are a portal to make connections but a fulfilling relationship is not a promise we can make. We will do our very best to help you craft a compelling listing, send your information to possible matches and promote your listing through social media.
Some ways you can make a match more likely:
– Take advantage of the planning resources listed above to have real clarity on what you can offer.
-Reach out to lots of different farmers to broaden your search.
-Be patient, finding the right match can take years but the right farmer partner is worth waiting for.
-Most important – Communication.
Communication with Land Link: Land Link is an email based program, please return emails to the Land Link coordinator in a timely fashion, even if you are not interested in the listing being offered. While the one-time membership fee is forever, farmers and landowners will have to respond to an email check-in every 6 months to keep their listing active on the site. We do this to ensure viable and current listings.
Communication with Farmers: Once you are meeting with a potential land match, it is important to be open and honest about your vision and plans. If it is not a match, say so. This also means crafting a lease that outlines all the particulars of the agreement. (Lease Building tools here) Like any solid relationship, open communication can stop disagreements before they start. You’ll want to have clauses in writing that govern what happens when conflicts arise. Like any tenant relationship – you may want to check references – particularly if you are leasing housing to the farmer as well.
With all that out of the way – if you are ready to apply to seek a farmer through Land Link, you can start the application online here. Or click here for the Landowner Seeking Farmer application to fill out and send in (pdf)
Once you have completed the application we will be in touch by email to discuss your listing and at that point we will share a link to pay the one time membership fee ($30). Once the application and fee are taken care of we post your listing and you can start contacting farmers.
Thanks for your interest in Land Link!