Overview
It is essential to keep the agricultural industry in Massachusetts thriving. The APR Program helps to preserve agricultural land to keep valuable farmland soil from being built on by development companies for non-agricultural purposes that could be detrimental to the environment. The program offers to pay farmland owners the difference between the "fair market value" and the "agricultural value" of their farms in exchange for a permanent deed restriction which prevents any use of the property that will negatively impact its future agricultural viability.
It is a voluntary program for farmers who are faced with a decision regarding the future use of their farms. The main objective of the APR program is to protect productive farmland with the deed restrictions and revitalize the agricultural industry by making land more affordable to farmers and their operations more financially secure. The program accepts applications on a rolling basis. Projects are evaluated on a quarterly basis and are advance subject to available funding.
Program Eligibility
Landowners with at least five acres of land with suitable soils in agricultural production for the last two years.
Primary Requirements:
- Farm must be at least five (5) acres in size.
- Land has to have been actively devoted to agriculture for the two (2) immediately preceding tax years.
- Farm must produce at least $500 in gross sales per year for the first five acres plus $5 for each additional acre or 50 cents per each additional acre of woodland and/or wetland.
Other criteria considered:
- Suitability and productivity of land for agricultural use based on soil classification, physical features, and location
- The degree of threat to the continuation of agriculture on the land due to circumstances such as owner's health, retirement, financial positions, development pressure, or insecurity due to rental agreements
- The size or composition of the land that determines if it is economically viable for agricultural purposes, and the likelihood that it will remain in agriculture in the future
Additional Resources
Policies and Guidelines
- APR Program Guide
- APR Regulations - 330 CMR 22.00
- APR Renewable Energy Policy
- APR Special Permit Policy
- APR Dwelling guidelines
- APR Local Matching Funds
- APR Purchase Price Limitations (aka “Cap”)
- APR Requests for a Certificate of Approval to Subdivide Land
- APR Change of Ownership: Sales, Transfers, OPAVs, ROFRs, Waivers
- Farm Business Plan Template
- Hemp and Marijuana Production on APRs
- Private APR Guidance
APR Staff
Stewardship Team | Acquisition Team | |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor Arsenault Stewardship Supervisor Interim APR Transfer Coordinator 617-655-3870 Taylor.Arsenault@mass.gov | Ron Hall Acquisition Coordinator 413-726-2002 Ronald.Hall@mass.gov | |
| Julie Weiss Stewardship Planner SARA Grant/ Federal Monitoring 617-913-5317 Julie.Weiss@mass.gov | Michele Padula Acquisition Planner Northern Worcester, Franklin, and Northern Berkshire Counties 617-921-0051 Michele.Padula@mass.gov | |
| Delia Delongchamp Stewardship Planner Southcoast and Metrowest Region 617-785-0804 Delia.Delongchamp@mass.gov | Jay Rosa Acquisition Planner Southern Worcester, Hampden County and Southern Berkshire Counties 857-507-5367 Jay.Rosa@mass.gov | |
| Jill Banach Stewardship Planner Northeast and North Central Region 857-248-3999 Jill.Banach@mass.gov | Christine Chisholm Acquisition Planner Essex, Middlesex, Westport, Dartmouth and Hampshire Counties 617-455-9204 Chris.Chisholm@mass.gov | |
| Nathan Moyer Stewardship Planner Franklin and Northern Berkshire Counties 413-727-5855 Nathan.Moyer@mass.gov | ||
| Tina Smith Stewardship Planner Hampshire and Southern Berkshire Counties 617-455-5201 Kristina.Smith@mass.gov | ||
| Tyler Maikath Stewardship Planner Worcester and Hampden Counties 857-289-4598 Tyler.Maikath@mass.gov |