APR Improvement Program (AIP)

Contact: Melissa Adams, Program Coordinator - Melissa.Adams@state.ma.us – 413-268-8269

The purpose of the APR Improvement Program is to help sustain active commercial farming on land protected by the APR Program. AIP will provide technical assistance and business planning to improve farm productivity with the goal of enhancing the significance of APR farm operations and their contribution to the state’s agricultural industry. The program will assist with issues of economic viability, environmental sustainability, resource conservation, ownership control, modernization and other issues that may enhance the long term continued use of the agricultural resource. The AIP will use a process of providing services to participant farms including technical assistance, business planning, and access to capital similar to services provided by the Department’s Farm Viability Enhancement Program. However, the land protection component of FVEP is omitted, as APR farmland is already restricted to agricultural uses only. 


Applications to the Pilot Round of the AIP, due on July 28, 2009, have been received and were reviewed based on the following selection criteria:

1) Have the highest potential for increased profitability and sustainability as a result of the Commonwealth’s new investment
2) Have a significant but reversible risk due to debt, low income, family ownership/control or management problems, or other threats to the continuance of farm operations
3) Need assistance with generational farm transfer issues that would be facilitated by the Commonwealth’s investment.
4) Clearly defined barriers to ongoing viable farm operations and detailed opportunities for resource enhancement, diversification, expansion of production, or marketing improvement that will contribute to continued success of the farm enterprises.
5) Demonstrate directly relevant agricultural experience and training of Responders
6) Proposed activities in the application meet the purposes of the Program

27 applications were received for this Pilot Round of AIP and, based on this review, 10 farms have been sent notifications for acceptance into Phase I of the Program. AIP staff will be working with these farms to provide business planning and technical assistance from November 2009 through April 2010. Farms that complete an AIP business plan and commit to implementation of farm improvement strategies identified in the Plan consistent with Program objectives will be eligible for funding through AIP grants in Phase II of AIP.

It is expected that the open application period for the next round of AIP will be in the spring of 2010.