The Department recently concluded a series of six in-person and one online Listening Sessions to hear feedback about the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program. We are very appreciative of the time taken by over 200 people to participate in the sessions.
In case you were unable to attend or have remaining comments and insights, you still have an opportunity to share your thoughts by completing our online questionnaire (by June 9th). You can fill in as much or as little as you would like. There is also an opportunity on the form for you to comment on any relevant topic for you related to the APR program. Your comments will be combined with the in-person and online sessions feedback to help further contribute to the continuous improvement of the APR program.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide your feedback. Your contribution matters, and we truly appreciate your continued support and partnership in preserving farmland in Massachusetts.
Preserving Farmland For Future Generations
APR Program Events in Spring 2023
Evenings 6-8pm (Registration starts at 5:30 p.m.)
- April 11 - Dighton
Bristol County Agricultural High School - Student Commons 212,
Gilbert Hall 135 Center Street, Dighton - April 13 - Stockbridge
Stockbridge Town Hall
50 Main St, Stockbridge - May 2 - Amherst
Red Barn at Hampshire College
893 West Street, Amherst - May 3 - Danvers
Essex North Shore Agricultural &Tech School, Media Center
565 Maple Street, Danvers, MA - May 4 - Leominster
Fidelity Bank - Community Room
9 Leominster Connector, Leominster -
May 11 - Gilbertville
Hardwick Farmers Cooperative Exchange
444 Lower Rd, Gilbertville
The program will include:
APR Program Updates
(30 minutes)
MDAR staff will speak about policies, procedures, regulations, guidance, and efforts to improve and modernize the APR program after input from the 2020 listening sessions.
Listening Sessions
(45 minutes)
MDAR would like to hear your thoughts on what works well and your concerns or challenges with: dwellings on APR, your ability to conduct non-agricultural commercial activities on APRs (Special Permits), alternative energy on APR, the sale and transfer of
APRs, APR Eligibility and ranking, the use of ACEP ALE program to leverage APR funding and other APR related issues.
Communication Sessions
(45 minutes)
A facilitated Q&A session to better understand participant thoughts on the overall APR program to learn how to better engage with existing and future APR program participants.
MDAR is also interested in hearing from you about other topics like planning for climate resiliency: soil management, no-till agriculture, soil health, carbon sequestration; and weather-related issues like storms, flooding, and increased frost/thaw frequency.
Pre-registration is not required for any session but is recommended that you register for register for a listening session.
For information contact events@discoverasg.com
Since 1980, the APR Program has permanently protected 968 farms and 75,031 acres in Massachusetts. The APR program was the first in the nation and continues to protect and preserve working farms for generations to come.