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.
MDAR Seeks proposals for the agricultural use of of state-owned agricultural fields at the following locations. Responses must be received by MDAR no later than 3:00 PM, April 20, 2018.
- Agawam: For proposals for the agricultural use of 12 +/- acres of state-owned agricultural fields located west of South Westfield Street and east of Pine Street Agawam, Massachusetts. - View Solicitation
- Danvers State Hospital – For proposals for the agricultural use of up to 193.5+/- acres, formerly part of Danvers State Hospital, located west of Route 1 surrounding former state hospital land and the Hogan Regional Center. Parcels 1-31 as described in M.G.L. Chapter 686 of the Acts of 1981. All fields have been in rotation of forage corn and grasses. - View Solicitation
- Taunton State Hospital, Lakeville: For proposals for the agricultural use of multiple parcels totaling approximately 40.2 +/- acres of farmland located on Bridge Street in Lakeville, Massachusetts. - View Solicitation
- Taunton State Hospital, Middleborough: The agricultural use of state-own property located on approximately 14 acres in Middleborough. - View Solicitation
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Westborough: for the agricultural use of state-own property located on the campus of the Westborough State Hospital containing approximately 51.10 acres, more or less, and containing approximately 22.70 acres, more or less. - View Solicitation
Responses must be received by MDAR no later than 3:00 PM, April 20, 2018.
State-owned farmland parcels which are under the Care and Control of MDAR, and which are licensed for 5 year periods include:
Agawam Criminal Justice Training Center, Agawam (12.00 acres)
Danvers Agricultural Reserve, Danvers (205.50 acres)
Former Grafton State Hospital 1, Westborough (16.10 acres)
Taunton State Hospital, Lakeville (49.30 acres)
Middleborough 1 Middleborough (8.40 acres)
Northampton Agricultural Reserve, Northampton (283.75 acres)
Westborough State Hospital, Westborough (18.46 acres)
Westborough State Hospital, Westborough (51.10 acres)
The Department also licenses out farmland on other state properties under agreement with the appropriate state agency. Land licenses are bid out through an RFR process. Related RFR and other program notices will be posted here and in the Farm and Market Report.