Farmland Preservation

Technical assistance is provided to farmland owners who are interested in applying for the state's purchase of development rights funds through the Land for Maine's Future program. For more information, please contact: Stephanie Gilbert, Farmland Protection Program Manager at 287-7520, e-mail: stephanie.gilbert@maine.gov

Permanent Land Protection - Purchase of Development Rights

The Land for Maine's Future Program (LMFP) was enacted in 1987 to acquire land and interests in lands (easements) to protect important conservation areas, water access, outdoor recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and farmland. The program requires a fifty-cent match for every dollar requested.

The USDA Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) provides matching funds to eligible state and local governmental and non-governmental entities who are seeking to purchase development rights on farms and ranches. The program will pay up to fifty percent of the appraised value of the development rights. It does not pay for real estate transaction costs such as appraisal, survey, title search and other due diligence. Only state and local governmental or non-governmental entities can apply for these funds.

Both the Land for Maine's Future and the USDA Farm and Ranch Land Protection programs assist the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources with protecting farmland for future generations of Maine farmers. The Department's Farmland Protection Program Manager works closely with farmers, towns and land trusts to identify those projects that are most likely to receive funding for the purchase of development rights. It guides the planning and application writing processes to sponsor the projects to both funding programs. Once projects are allocated funds they receive ongoing technical assistance from the Department.

When a farm property's development rights are sold they are extinguished through an agricultural conservation easement, or deed restriction, that is granted to the Department, a town or a local land trust. The easement protects all current and future agricultural uses of the land by prohibiting all conflicting non-agricultural uses (i.e., subdivision, housing development, etc.). It also allows farmers the flexibility needed to manage farmland. For example, farmers retain all other rights of ownership; they can sell, lease, continue to farm or diversify their operation, they just can't grow houses. If and when they do sell, their land will be valued as farmland, which often makes it more affordable for the next generation of farmers.

Temporary Land Protection - Differential Tax Assessment

Maine's Farm and Open Space Tax Law was enacted in 1975 to provide property tax relief to owners of farmland and open space. Property enrolled in the program is to be assessed at current use value rather than fair market value.

The Maine Tree Growth Tax Law was enacted to provide property tax relief to owners of woodlots and forestlands. Property enrolled in the program is evaluated and assessed at an established statewide rate for hardwood, softwood and mixed wood stands.

County Fact Sheets

County Fact Sheets for 2003 are available for download here. These fact sheets summarize important facts about farmers, farms, farmland and agricultural enterprises and events in each of Maine’s 16 counties. These four page documents also list agencies and organizations assisting farmers. A clickable map of Maine will enable you to download a PDF file of the county fact sheet(s) of your choice. These files are fairly large files (approximately 2 meg each) and are meant to be printed out on both sides of an 11 x 17 sheet. It may be very slow and challenging to try to view them on line. Be sure you understand your browser's capabilities for viewing and downloading PDF files.

Helpful Links:

Land for Maine's Future
http://www.maine.gov/spo/lmf/

Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/fpp/

Maine Farmland Trust
http://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org

Maine FarmLink
www.mainefarmlink.org

Farm and Open Space Tax Law
http://www.maine.gov/revenue/propertytax/Bulletins/Tax%20Bulletin%2018.htm

Maine Tree Growth Tax Law
http://www.maine.gov/revenue/propertytax/Bulletins/Tax%20Bulletin%2019.htm

Saving Maine's Farmland: A Collaborative Action Plan

<<< Click to read on-line or download the "Plan." (1.1 MB)

<<< Click to read on-line or download the Glossary, a fact sheet from the American Farmland Trust, Farmland Information Center. (67.3 KB)
<<< Click here to read on-line, or download the Farmland Protection Toolbox, a fact sheet from the American Farmland Trust, Farmland Information Center. (83 KB)

Notes on downloading: If your browser is set to read the document within its window, the interactive links in the table of contents and the links within/among the three documents will not work. If you download the three separate documents to the same folder on your hard drive, you will be able to navigate them using the free Acrobat Reader program.

Market and production development dIVISION