Thank you for considering an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) for your farmland. The APR program is voluntary, and the submission of an application to the program does not obligate you to complete the APR, nor does it guarantee that the Commonwealth will purchase an APR on your land.
Please note that the basic thresholds for APR eligibility are 1.) you have at least 5 acres of agricultural land, and 2.) the land has been in active commercial agricultural use for at least the past two years. There are other criteria that are considered when reviewing and scoring an application, but these two eligibility requirements must be met for a application to advance to the evaluation stage.
Instructions
Contact your APR Field Representative
APR Program staff are available to discuss the APR application process with you year-round and can explain program requirements so that you can make an informed choice whether the program fits your goals. Enrolling your land into the APR program is a significant decision and process that takes careful thought, planning, and time.
It can take up to one year for submitted applications to receive state and federal approvals to proceed, and up to an additional 1 to 2 years to complete the purchase on the approved applications, so you are highly encouraged to contact staff representatives early in your APR consideration process. Donated APRs can take much less time – a few months to a year total, and have substantial state and federal tax incentives.
Detailed APR program information can be found in the APR Program Guide. See also the listing at the bottom of this page to contact your local APR Regional Planner.
Pre-application Planning
Your APR Field Representative will schedule an appointment to meet with you at the farm property to go over the details of the program, ask you questions about the land and your farming operation, walk the property to observe the productive fields and forest, and discuss any questions you may have. If it is determined that your property fits the requirements of the program, and program details align with your goals as the landowner, the APR Field Representative will provide you with an application to sell or donate an APR for your farmland.
If you have prepared any of the following items, please make sure you have them available for review on the day of the field visit:
- USDA-NRCS Conservation Plan
- Forest Management Plan
- Succession Plan for the property
- Lease Agreements covering the land proposed for restriction.
- Fertilization/Reseeding Schedule
If you elect to submit an APR application, the following information will be required. Generally, APR applications are accepted and reviewed on a quarterly basis:
Maps:
- An aerial photo map showing boundaries of all of your property (tax parcel boundaries). Please also indicate the areas proposed to be included in APR and left out (excluded) areas. Also identify any differences in ownership amongst the parcels.
- A soils map clearly showing property and APR boundaries, as well as prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, and/or farmland of local importance. Include calculations of % of these soils compared to the total acreage.
- A land use map showing boundaries and open active agricultural land use and/ or woods.
- USGS topographic map showing property and APR boundaries.
- Any existing full boundary survey (if known).
- Any additional maps that you may feel helpful can also be included (wildlife and wetland maps, aquifer and water resource maps, public trail maps, etc.) This non-agriculturally related information helps staff determine if APR is the best fit for your goals or if another conservation program may be a better option.
There is an online mapping tool, Mass Mapper, which is available to the public for creating maps. Another online mapping tool is the USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey. Other services for map making include your local USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service office or Land Trust Organizations. If you need assistance with an APR Map Packet, please contact your local APR Field Representative to assist with a mapping requirements.
It is important for you to consider existing infrastructure that will be included for APR program enrollment (barns, utilities, storage, etc). These commercial agricultural structures may be included at the owner’s option. Residential and commercial non-agricultural structures should be excluded, as well as any areas that may be considered for residential or commercial non-agricultural use in the future.
It may also be necessary to exclude portions of woodland, wetland or open land that do not contain productive agricultural soils. This will be discussed during your visit with the APR Field Representative, but you may want to discuss this possibility with family members prior to the visit.
If you are uncertain about possible exclusions, please ask your local APR Field Representative.
Deeds:
- Most recent property deed for all of the proposed APR parcels and any known boundary or partial boundary surveys including registry recording information (Book & Page)
- List of any known easements or agreements affecting land being proposed for APR and/or any existing lease agreements affecting the land
If you are unable to obtain a copy of your property deed(s), please ask your local APR Field Representative for assistance.
Submitted Application Evaluation
Once your application is received in the Department’s Southborough office, it is evaluated by staff and a recommendation to proceed with the project or not is made for consideration by the Agricultural Lands Preservation Committee (ALPC). All recommendations and meeting schedules are shared with you as the landowner in advance.
It is important to understand that while the program aims to complete projects approved for funding within a two-year window, depending upon when the application is received, this timeframe may change based on project complexity and other factors. For example, if an application is chosen to advance to the appraisal stage and you accept the Commonwealth’s offer, most projects utilize funding by the USDA-NRCS Agricultural Lands Easement (ALE) Program to obtain the required 50% funds from a non-MDAR source. Consequently, additional time may be needed to proceed through the ALE process. In addition, there are steps remaining in the process prior to closing including clearing title, a hazardous waste review, posting of legal notices, preparation of perimeter survey, preparation of a Baseline Documentation Report, and obtaining final approvals from the State.
Please contact your APR Field Representative listed below to make an appointment:
CHRIS CHISHOLM
Essex & Middlesex Counties, Westport & Dartmouth, and Hampshire County
Chris.Chisholm@mass.gov
617-455-9204
RON HALL
APR Program Coordinator
Ronald.Hall@mass.gov
413-726-2002
MICHELE PADULA
Northern Worcester, Franklin, and Northern Berkshire Counties
Michele.Padula@mass.gov
617-921-0051
JAY ROSA
Southeastern MA, Southern Worcester County, Hampden County, and Southern Berkshire County
Jay.Rosa@mass.gov
857-507-5367