Get in Touch
As part of our commitment to Environmental Justice (“EJ”) and equity, we strive to be in better contact with Historically Underserved Farmers in Massachusetts to share resources and provide support. Here are a few ways underserved farmers can get in touch with MDAR:
Environmental Justice Program Website: This webpage houses all of MDAR’s Environmental Justice resources. Here you can find EJ definitions, MDAR’s EJ strategy, and other related information.
If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, you can contact MDAR’s EJ Team at MDAR.EJ@Mass.gov
Self-ID as a Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Producer: By completing this form, farmers and producers who self-identify as socially-disadvantaged will be added to our database used for outreach purposes. This database will be contacted through phone, email, or mail, depending on the information provided, to provide information on open grants, specific opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers, and other resources.
This form also features an “opt-in” button that allows MDAR to share the basic information of the farmer or producer with organizations funded through MDAR programs, to better connect farmers and producers to market and buying opportunities.
NRCS Definitions Page: This page highlights USDA’s definition of a socially disadvantaged farmer.
Updates on MDAR: The following resources provide constituents with updates on MDAR grants, services, and resources.
EJ Newsletter: By signing up for the EJ Newsletter, you will receive email updates on MDAR EJ initiatives, open grants, upcoming events, and related articles.
Farm and Market Report: This is a bi-monthly newsletter which includes the Commissioner's Column, program and grant updates, workshop and educational updates, USDA News, along with a Calendar and Classified section.
Ag Industry Calendar: This calendar features upcoming agricultural events in the Commonwealth.
Assistance Resources
Beginning Farmer Resource Page: This page highlights resources for farmers within 1-10 years of business, including land access resources, training programs, workshops and financial education, and much more.
Farmland Action Plan: This plan sets forth, for the first time, goals, priorities, and recommended actions for farmland protection and access in Massachusetts. It recommends strategies to address urgent challenges experienced by existing, new, and Historically Underserved farmers. The recommendations in this plan seek to reduce farmland conversion; increase access to healthy, fresh food; maintain and increase the economic viability of farms; and recognize the importance of farmland for ecosystem health through implementation of environmental, conservation, and healthy soil practices.
Guide to USDA Resources for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers: This multi-agency publication provides information on assistance and targeted opportunities available to Farmers of Color, women, veteran, beginning and limited resource producers.
CDFA-NASDA Foundation’s Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Access to Capital Toolkit: This toolkit is designed to assist practitioners working in agriculture and economic development in learning more about the range of finance tools available to assist underserved farmers and ranchers with obtaining capital to start and grow their businesses. This toolkit outlines the many barriers socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers face with finding affordable funding sources and provides detailed insight on how public-private partnerships between the USDA and community economic development organizations will best support their farm and ranch businesses.
Marketing Opportunities
The following resources have information on promotion and market opportunities for historically underserved and socially disadvantaged farmers and producers.
MassGrown Exchange: The MassGrown Exchange is a business-to-business platform that assists farmers, fishers, food buyers, and ag-related businesses to connect, exchange, and find products and services.
MassGrown Map: This map highlights Massachusetts farms, farmers’ market, and other agricultural activities near you.
Grants
The following resources highlight grants available at MDAR targeted towards historically underserved farmers, as well as resources to help with applications.
EJ Grant RFR Attachment: This voluntary form, attached to all MDAR grants, allows applicants to self-identify as socially disadvantaged through a variety of questions. This information is then used internally to track who is receiving MDAR funding in an effort to advance our Environmental Justice and equity goals.
Grant Application Resources: The following resources aim to help farmers, producers, and organizations in the grant application process.
Tips for Applying for Grants Video: This video highlights tips to aid grant applicants in the application and writing process.
Grant Writer List: This page has information on individuals and organizations that may assist individuals, farms, farmers, or organizations that need assistance with grant writing, grant related research, and project management.
Note: Grant writing services are not in any way necessary for the application processes. MDAR grants are designed for applicants of varying grant-writing skills and utilizing external grant writing services will not in any way guarantee funding.
Massachusetts Food Trust Program: This grant program is designed to increase access to healthy, affordable food as a means to improve health outcomes and to encourage innovation in healthy food retailing and distribution in nutritionally underserved communities. The MFTP will provide funding to a Community Development Financial Institution (“CDFI”) who will invest or award funding to sub- recipients to support healthy food initiatives in underserved communities.
Massachusetts Food Ventures Program: This grant program is designed to advance the objectives of the Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan by providing funding through grants to support food ventures, primarily in communities of low or moderate income.
Urban Agriculture Grant Program: This grant program is designed to advance Commonwealth goals and objectives, leverage collective resources, and support commercial projects designed to increase the production, processing, and marketing of produce grown and sold in urban centers across the Commonwealth. Expenditures will promote strategies to address food insecurity and to increase access of fresh, local produce in urban neighborhoods with a high concentration of low-moderate income residents.
Full List of Grants Webpage: This webpage houses a full list of MDAR grant programs, complete with links to program webpages.
EJ Booklet: This booklet, which is translated into a variety of languages, highlights the programs and services that MDAR provides, including a list of grant programs, complimented by a short blurb and link to the webpage.
USDA Grant Opportunities:
Farm Loans: FSA makes direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans to family-size farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank, Farm Credit System institution, or other lender. FSA loans can be used to purchase land, livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and supplies. Loans can also be used to construct buildings or make farm improvements.
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers: USDA, through the Farm Service Agency, provides direct and guaranteed loans to beginning farmers and ranchers who are unable to obtain financing from commercial credit sources. Each fiscal year, the Agency targets a portion of its direct and guaranteed farm ownership (FO) and operating loan (OL) funds to beginning farmers and ranchers.
Translation and Interpretation Resources
The following resources highlight the language access services provided by MDAR, including translation and interpretation services.
MDAR’s Draft Language Access Plan (“LAP”): The LAP highlights the language access services available at MDAR in addition to the steps staff must take to ensure constituents have access to these services. The finalized LAP will be available in the upcoming months.
Request Translation/Interpretation: These following resources are just a few ways that constituents can access MDAR language access services.
Translation Resources Flyer: This flyer highlights how constituents can access language services, including details on how to translate the Mass.gov website and access the form to request a translation.
Translation Request Form: This form allows constituents to request a specific document or set of documents be translated into any language.
MDAR EJ Team Contact Info: If you would like to request a translation or interpretation service, feel free to contact MDAR’s Language Access Coordinator:
Olivia Palmer
Land Access
Agricultural Preservation Restriction (“APR”) Program: The 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 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 protects the farmland for future agricultural use.
State-Owned Farmland Licensing Program: The primary purpose of the State-owned Farmland Licensing Program is to make publicly owned agricultural land available to farmers and others through agricultural licenses. Visit the program webpage to see parcels under the care and control of MDAR.
Land Access Resources for Beginning Farmers: This webpage highlights specific external land access resources for Beginning Farmers.