Skip First Level Navigation | Skip All Navigation

Home > News Archive

Department News

Back to News Headlines

Maine Farmland Trust Announces New FarmLink Website

June 21, 2006

Contact:

Belfast, ME. Maine Farmland Trust, Maine’s only organization committed exclusively to farmland protection, announces a new website for its FarmLink program.

Maine FarmLink connects retiring farmers, farmland owners and exiting farmers with experienced, prospective farmers. FarmLink also helps farmers transfer their agricultural businesses and lands within the family.

“The web page offers farmers easy access to needed resources that we often give over the phone or through the mail,” said FarmLink Coordinator, Susie O’Keeffe.

In addition to finding application forms and general information on the program, farmers can now access information on farm transfer and retirement services including: estate planning, financing, grants and loans, tenure options and business planning. People who are using FarmLink to find new farmland in Maine can now also access the program’s farm list on the web page.

“Our website is not intended to replace the work we do face to face and on the phone with farmers,” O’Keeffe explained. “But it will help more farmers access the essential information they need to get started finding or transferring a farm.”

As it enters its forth year, Maine FarmLink has completed 19 links and has over 70 farms ready for transfer to a next generation farmer.

Once applicants enter the program, FarmLink facilitates the connection between the exiting farmers and prospective farmers, and helps both parties access the support and information they need to successfully transfer the farm. The service is free to farm owners. There is a $25 yearly fee for prospective farmers.

More information about FarmLink is available through Maine Farmland Trust’s office (469-6465 or 338-6575) or at the new website http://www.mainefarmlink.org.