Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) licenses agricultural properties for up to 5-year periods with the potential to renew for an additional 5 years. Current licenses include farming operations growing vegetables, forage, and livestock with rotational grazing programs. Cannabis operations are not permitted within state-owned licenses. Tenants are required by the state to use best management practices when growing on state-owned land. Comprehensive insurance coverage must be held by all tenants.
As identified in the Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan, the licensing program gives preference to new and beginning farmers as well as historically underserved populations. Tenants may install temporary or permanent infrastructure improvements with the approval and oversight of the Department. MDAR also supports state-owned properties with infrastructure improvements depending on available funds.
The Department can license properties for agricultural use on behalf of other state agencies and municipalities. MDAR currently licenses land for the State Police, DCAMM, and DPH. Public officials interested in licensing property for this program can send inquiries to the contacts below.
State farmland licenses are bid out through an open application process. Bid postings for available property and other programming notices will be posted here and in MDAR's Farm and Market Report.
For inquiries related to hunting at MDAR state-owned agricultural properties, please review our MDAR State-Owned Farmland Properties page.