Agricultural Business Development Center
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture encourages transitioning and organic farmers to look at all Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC) resources and services, including farm transitions.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture encourages transitioning and organic farmers to look at all Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC) resources and services, including farm transitions.
Equity Trust provides counseling on land tenure issues to farmers, land trusts, and others. They can adapt these models to particular local situations through document review, phone and email consultations, and on-site technical assistance. Resources include technical assistance and publications.
The Land Stewardship Project has several tools for people planning a farm transition, including the Farmland Access Financial Decision-Making Tool for assessing risk, affordability, readiness, and land access options. This is a resource that covers four critical areas of decision-making that beginning farmers should consider when it comes to obtaining quality, affordable farmland: 1) Visioning, 2) Experience, 3) Finances, and 4) Land Assessment. Considering these critical areas of decision-making will not only help with land access, but will also increase knowledge and skills that farmers can apply to other critical decisions.
In addition, Ear to the Ground is an LSP podcast that hosts farmers, scientists, and others telling stories of the land. Episodes 94 and 95 discuss the challenges and opportunities that emerge when passing on the farm to the next generation.
Pennsylvania Farm Link is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to “link farmers to the future” through a comprehensive land-linking database, succession planning initiatives, print and online resources, and more. PFL works closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and other agricultural organizations and businesses across the Commonwealth to support Pennsylvania farmers.
To help address the challenge of land access, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy currently has two farm properties, one in Mercer County and another in Westmoreland County, where land is leased to local farmers for diverse, small-scale agricultural operations.