The 2023 Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan outlines a pathway for many partners across the state to address the urgent challenges of farmland loss, access to farmland and farm economic viability. During the initial steps of its implementation, there were several requests for additional information about how to incorporate farmland protection into municipal plans, including Open Space and Recreation Plans (OSRPs).
MDAR launched this webpage as a starting point for farmland and agricultural resources for municipalities. Additional resources will be added to this webpage as they become available.
Planning for Farmland in Massachusetts
In 2026, MDAR published a new resource to assist staff at municipalities, regional planning agencies (RPAs) and land trusts to plan for farmland in Massachusetts - both within planning documents as well as wider planning activities, engagement and municipal operations. Written by MDAR, and informed by a group of partners who volunteered last fall, this document reflects a collaborative step forward towards building capacity of municipalities, RPAs and land trusts.
"Planning for Farmland in Massachusetts. An Overview at the Municipal and Regional Level" covers the following areas:
- Agriculture in Massachusetts
- Tools to support farming and protect farmland
- Understanding farmland and agriculture in your community
- Things to keep in mind when developing strategies to protect farmland
In addition to the full resource, there is also a webinar summary (slides available below and video coming soon)
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Planning for Farmland in Massachusetts (Webinar slides 09-23-2026), Open PDF file, 3.09 MB (English, PDF 3.09 MB)
Additional Farmland Planning Resources
The following are some resources that could be helpful for municipalities from a planning perspective:
- Open Space and Recreation Planner’s Workbook (“OSRP Workbook”). 2025 Update. By the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services (DCS). This document includes some updates related to planning for agriculture.
- Local Food Systems. The Role of Municipal Governments. September 2018. By the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative. This document highlights some considerations relating to how farmland fits into the wider food system from a municipal perspective – for municipal leadership, planning and development, health, schools, public works and public safety.
Through MDAR's Farmland Partnership Project, there are several resources being created that could help with planning for farmland.
- A Municipal Farmland Protection Plan template is being created and piloted. This resource is due to be completed in late 2027.
- Education on planning and zoning that reduces farmland loss will occur for municipalities in SE Massachusetts. Resources will be shared for others to use.
The following resources have some useful wider context related to agriculture in Massachusetts:
- Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan 2023 and its Annual Progress Reports. By the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR)
- Agricultural Resources, Facts and Statistics collated by MDAR
- New England Feeding New England – A Regional Approach to Food System Resilience 2023 and Massachusetts State Brief 2023 by New England Food System Planners Partnership
- Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan 2015 by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and Massachusetts Workforce Alliance for the Massachusetts Food Policy Council
Farmland Protection Resources
Municipalities have both required and optional roles when farmland is being considered for protection in their community. The following are some resources that may be useful.
MDAR's APR Program Resources for Municipalities webpage includes a resource to increase the awareness of municipal staff and officials of their statutory responsibilities and many opportunities to support permanently preserving farmland through the APR program alongside links to other resources.
Several projects funded by MDAR's Farmland Partnership Program intersect to cover education, workshops, technical assistance and capacity building for municipalities on several farmland protection topics. Work is ongoing with some resources already published and additional ones due to be completed by the end of 2027.
Agricultural Commissions
Massachusetts towns and cities have the authority to establish municipal agricultural commissions to “promote and develop the agricultural resources of the municipality”.
Through a partnership with Conservation Works, LLC, MDAR can provide support to Massachusetts Agricultural Commissions (AgComs) and municipalities interested in establishing an AgCom.
Click here for more information about Ag Coms and for contacts who can provide assistance.
Sign up for Newsletter
Sign up for the Farmland Action Plan newsletter, which will include some additional emails related to these resources.