The Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program is a voluntary program that enables farmers to access the financial value of their land without needing to sell it. Through federal, state, and local funds, the Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources can pay farmland owners the difference between the “fair market value” and the “agricultural value” of their farms in exchange for a permanent deed restriction to retain the land for farming. This helps to preserve the land for future generations, and to maintain affordable and accessible farmland for aspiring and experienced farmers.