Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Massachusetts Agriculture Day with $5.7 Million in Funding to Support Farmland Preservation MDAR Announces New Class of Agricultural Youth Council to represent next generation of agricultural leaders in Massachusetts and declares 2025 as the “Year of Youth” in Agriculture MDAR Commissioner Randle poses with students from the Massachusetts chapters of the 4-H and FFA program  In recognition of this day, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced over $5 million in funding that will permanently protect nearly 400 acres of farmland across eight farms through the state’s innovative Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program. Additionally, over $500,000 will help existing Massachusetts APR farmers restore land that was previously unsuitable for farming.
“We stand with our incredible farmers every day, and today we are proudly celebrating their hard work and resilience. Through every challenge they face, these farmers cultivate the crops that feed our families and strengthen our communities. Their dedication ensures that fresh, local food reaches every table,” said Governor Maura Healey. “At a time of immense uncertainty at the federal level, Massachusetts is fully committed to delivering the support, programs and resources that empower our farmers to grow, expand and succeed.”
“With over 7,000 farms across Massachusetts, our agricultural sector is an economic powerhouse in our rural economy and beyond,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We know how important it is to protect our farmland, and we are proud to offer our support through these grant programs. They’ll equip our farms with what they need to succeed and turn unused land into productive fields.”
Massachusetts Agriculture Day celebrates the diversity of the state’s agricultural industry. The event brings farmers, commodity groups, and other food system stakeholders from all over the state, giving legislators, and officials the chance to taste locally produced foods and learn about the important issues of farmers are facing.
“Massachusetts farmers are some of the strongest and most resilient people I’ve met,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Between extreme weather, high costs, and now a tariff war, our farmers deserve our support more than ever. Our programs are designed to keep existing farms strong and revive unused land for farming. This means better food security and a healthier environment for everyone in Massachusetts.”
Agriculture Youth Council Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle also announced the newest members of the Massachusetts Agricultural Youth Council. Now in its second year, the Council’s mission is to cultivate and foster the next generation of leaders in the agriculture industry in Massachusetts.
MDAR selected 15 high school students to serve on the Council. The group will meet monthly to discuss agricultural issues, hear from guest speakers from the agricultural industry, learn about the legislative process and workforce development opportunities, attend special events and tours, and enhance their professional skills. The next class of the Agricultural Youth Council members are:
Commissioner Randle also declared 2025 as the Year of Youth in Agriculture, emphasizing the importance of involving young people in farming as the current farming population ages. The declaration will provide opportunities to spotlight and elevate young adult voices in agriculture by leveraging resources, including events and partnerships with organizations like 4-H and FFA to inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders.
“Youth engagement in agriculture has been one of our top priorities at MDAR so I’m delighted to welcome in a new class of leaders who will help shape the future of agriculture and especially want to thank our inaugural class for their contributions and involvement over the past year,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “While there are always challenges in farming and agriculture, I’m optimistic that our future looks bright with the amount of interest we’ve seen in our students who share the same values we all have in making sure we continue to grow and nurture a rich and diverse industry. Through our farmland protection programs, we’ll make sure that when the next generation of farmers take their place in shaping the agricultural landscape, they will have access to farmland here in Massachusetts so they can make their mark.”
Funding for Farmland Protection Established in 1977 as the first-of-its-kind farmland protection program in the country, the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program is a voluntary program that enables farmers to access the financial value of their land without needing to sell it. Administered through MDAR’s Division of Agricultural Conservation and Technical Assistance, MDAR is able to pay farmers the difference between the “fair market value” and the “agricultural value” of their farms in exchange for a permanent deed restriction to retain the land for farming and preserve it solely for agricultural use for future generations. The APR program helps maintain affordable and accessible farmland for aspiring and experienced farmers. To date, the program has acquired 967 farm properties while protecting approximately 76,169 acres of farmland in Massachusetts.
“In Fiscal Year 2025, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Agricultural Land Easements Program – ACEP-ALE provided payments of $2,028,000 to Massachusetts for APR completed projects representing 50% of the appraisal value of the farmland,” said Massachusetts State Conservationist for NRCS Dan Wright. “The MDAR and NRCS partnership ensures that Massachusetts' farmland is preserved and conserved for generations to come. USDA is committed to preserving our agricultural lands for the future generations. ACEP ALE is a perfect opportunity to partner with NRCS on preserving these lands and the value they provide to the residents of Massachusetts.”
Through MDAR, the administration also awarded $573,817 to 19 farms through the Stewardship Assistance and Restoration on APRs (SARA) Program. The program provides funding to restore active commercial farming on land that is in the APR Program. Awards will be used to remove debris, improve drainage, clear rocks and invasive species, and repair farm roads to improve access.
“Our Commonwealth must continue to invest in farms and farmers who contribute to the state's economy, food security, and who keep our valuable farmland in use as farmland,” said State Senator Jo Comerford (D - Northampton). “Through the Stewardship Assistance and Restoration on Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program, farms in Northampton, Deerfield, Hadley, and Amherst will receive much-needed funding to restore active commercial farming on otherwise inhospitable land. I am grateful that the Healey-Driscoll Administration is investing in the expansion and success of the Commonwealth’s agricultural sector, and I will continue working with my colleagues in the legislature to prioritize this work.”
“I am deeply grateful to be in public service in a state that clearly values the agricultural sector and works collaboratively together to support it,” said State Representative Natalie M. Blais (D – Deerfield). “Together, we have provided financial support farmers in the face of natural disasters; increased funding for land protection and infrastructure programs; and provided the tools to help build the next generation of farmers that will protect the future of our local food system.”
The following are the completed APR projects for the 2024 calendar year:
The following are the SARA grant recipients for the 2025 fiscal year:
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