Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program (APR)

The Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program is a voluntary program which is intended to offer a non-development alternative to farmers and other owners of "prime" and "state important" agricultural land who are faced with a decision regarding future use and disposition of their farms. Towards this end, the program offers to pay farmland owners the difference between the "fair market value" and the "agricultural value" of their farmland in exchange for a permanent deed restriction which precludes any use of the property that will have a negative impact on its agricultural viability.

Massachusetts’ APR program, began as an act of the Legislature in 1979, was the first in our nation and has since been a model upon which many other states have built their programs. The Massachusetts APR program has permanently protected over 800 farms and a total land area of over 68,000 acres. The primary purpose of the APR program is to preserve and protect agricultural land, including designated farmland soils, which are a finite natural resource, from being built upon for non-agricultural purposes or used for any activity detrimental to agriculture and to maintain APR land values at a level that can be supported by the land’s agricultural uses and potential.

APR Program Notice

APR Program Brochures are Available

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources supports many direct marketing opportunities for farmers. Our MassGrown interactive map allows users to look up farm products to buy directly from the farmer. In order for us to assist in marketing your farm or products, please fill out the: Massachusetts Farm Marketing Survey  . This will enable us to forward your information as requested, along with being mapped on the MassGrown and Fresher website

Single or small batch requests and, for towns or organizations, larger batch orders are welcome. If you would like to help support and promote the APR program by distributing this brochure  file size 1MB to others or would just like one for yourself, send a request by phone, fax, or email to: Michael Gold, 617-626-1712, Fax 617-626-1850 View or print the entire brochure Agricultural Preservation Restiction Program brochure  file size 1MB .