2012 Farmland Protection Grant Program
GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION
For More Information, contact:
Erica Buswell
Maine Farmland Trust
97 Main Street
Belfast, Maine 04915
(207) 338 – 6575
ebuswell@mainefarmlandtrust.org
www.mainefarmlandtrust.org
INTRODUCTION
M
aine Farmland Trust is pleased to announce that Transaction Grants of up to $10,000 are
available through our 2012 Farmland Protection Grant Program. Grants will be awarded to
cover transaction costs associated with projects that will permanently protect active
farmland in Maine through conservation easements (donated and purchased) and fee acquisition.
Funds will be available on a reimbursement basis only and will be awarded upon project completion.
Land trusts operating in the State of Maine that meet all eligibility requirements are encouraged to
apply.
ABOUT MAINE FARMLAND TRUST
Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) is a statewide non-profit organization working to protect Maine’s precious
farmland resources. Since our founding in 1999, MFT has helped protect over 30,000 acres of Maine
farmland, primarily through agricultural conservation easements. MFT’s goal is not just to protect
farmland, but to keep agricultural lands working and to help make Maine agriculture more active and
viable.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Purpose
The primary goal of this program is to accelerate the pace of farmland protection in
Maine by providing local and regional land trusts with the financial and technical
support needed to complete more farmland protection projects. These grants are
intended to assist land trusts in protecting working farmland in Maine by funding a
portion of project transaction costs. We are also happy to consult with any land trust
that is considering applying to help assess the project’s suitability.
For those land trusts that lack experience protecting farmland, MFT can also offer the
following types of technical assistance: 1) review of agricultural conservation
easements; 2) evaluation of farmland monitoring procedures; and 3) assessment of
farmland viability. All of this assistance is available from MFT at no cost to land trusts.
Grant Awards Grants will be awarded to cover a portion of the transaction costs for farmland
protection projects that are completed within 12 months of award acceptance. The
maximum grant award for a single project is $10,000, although MFT expects that most
grant awards will not exceed $5,000.
Applicants must match the grant with a cash sum that meets or exceeds the amount of
the grant of award (i.e., a 1:1 match). Match must consist of actual funds; in-kind
contributions do not meet this requirement. Land trusts may apply for more than one
grant if there are multiple eligible projects in process; a separate application is required
for each grant proposal.
Funds will be awarded on a reimbursement basis and will be distributed to land trusts
following the project’s successful completion (i.e., after closing).
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Deadline
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Application Submissions Please email all application materials to:
Erica Buswell, ebuswell@mainefarmlandtrust.org
Alternatively, applicants may mail materials (1 copy) to MFT:
Maine Farmland Trust
Farmland Protection Grant Program
97 Main St.
Belfast, ME 04915
Attn: Erica Buswell
Notification
Maine Farmland Trust reviews proposals at the close of every other month starting in
February, and provides notification of awards within three weeks of the month’s end.
Inquiries
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review projects with MFT staff prior to
submitting applications. Please contact Erica Buswell or Stacy Gambrel at the Maine
Farmland Trust office, (207) 338-6575, or via email: ebuswell@mainefarmlandtrust.org
or sgambrel@mainefarmlandtrust.org.
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
Land trusts meeting the following criteria are eligible for the Farmland Protection Grant Program:
 Applicant is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
 Applicant is a qualified conservation organization under Section 170 (h) of the Internal Revenue
Code and has a stated land conservation mission.
 Applicant’s service area is located within the State of Maine.
 Applicant is reasonably certain that project will close within a 12-month period.
 Applicant must meet cash match requirements.
 Applicant must verify that match funds are available at time of application.
PROJECT ELIGIBILITY
 Grant support is provided to eligible applicants for the following types of projects:
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Donated agricultural conservation easements*
Purchased agricultural conservation easements
Fee acquisition, provided that the property will be protected with a
conservation easement and re-sold to a farmer(s).
*Preference will be given to donated easement projects.
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 All projects must result in easements that will enable commercially-viable agriculture to occur on
the property. This means that easement language must be designed with flexibility, as well as
with sensitivity to the long-term needs and opportunities of a particular farm property and its
place in the farm community. (MFT can provide technical assistance, as needed, to ensure that
easements are properly structured.)
 Priority will be given to projects on farmland that is currently being farmed. MFT will consider
projects on farmland that is not currently farmed, but only where the property is demonstrated
to be suitable for commercially-viable agriculture and where there is a practical plan to farm the
land.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Projects will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
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Project type (donated easement, purchased easement, or fee acquisition)
Current activity level of farm and potential future use
Degree of certainty that property can support viable commercial agriculture activity
Farm acreage (priority given to larger parcels)
Presence of good agricultural soils (i.e., Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance,
Farmland of Local Importance, Unique Farmland)
Likelihood that the property will be converted to non-farm use (if not conserved)
Proximity to other active farms
Proximity to other conserved land (not necessarily farmland)
Project readiness
Demonstrated organizational capacity to draft, monitor and enforce agricultural conservation
easements (and/or willingness to partner with MFT where the organization may have limited
experience or capacity)
Additional weight will be given in two instances: 1) when the projects are a collaborative effort
involving multiple land owners, parcels, or entities; and 2) where the farm provides an outstanding
demonstration of innovative agricultural practices.
PROJECT COSTS ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT FUNDING
Grants may cover transaction costs associated with farmland protection projects, provided that the
costs are incurred and the transaction closes within 12 months of award acceptance. (Funds are
provided on reimbursement basis only.) Eligible project costs may include:
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Survey
Land trust appraisal (grant funds not available for landowner/donor appraisal)
Environmental assessment
Other relevant project costs, with prior approval by MFT
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APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Your application must include the following materials. You may submit your materials via email to
ebuswell@mainefarmlandtrust.org. Of, if preferred, you can mail the materials (one copy) to the MFT
office: 97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 04915; attn. Erica Buswell.
If you are applying for more than one grant, please include a copy of supporting materials for each
application.
Project Application, including Project Budget and Schedule
Property Maps (all of which should indicate property boundaries):
a. Soils map (for maps, contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office or
visit the USDA Web Soil Survey at
http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm)
b. Aerial map (Google Earth map is suitable)
c. Tax map(s)
d. Land use diagram delineating fields, woods, and wetlands along with explanation of land
uses present or proposed on the property (e.g. orchards, cultivated cropland, forage crop,
wooded pasture, farm stand, etc.) Google Earth or GIS format preferred, but not
required.
Supporting Materials
a.
Land trust’s mission statement*
b.
Land trust’s most recent year-end financial statement and operating budget
c.
Copy of land trust’s IRS (c)(3) determination letter
d.
List of the land trust’s current Staff and Board of Directors
e.
Photographs of the project property
f.
Copy of the proposed conservation easement (if available) or copy of organization’s
conservation easement boilerplate (if such boilerplate exists).
g.
Copy of Purchase and Sale agreement (if purchasing easement or fee)
h.
Additional Supporting Information (OPTIONAL): map of land trust service area and
any printed materials, press articles, or other information that supports your
application.
*If your mission does not specifically discuss farmland protection, please briefly describe how this
particular project helps meet your organizational goals.
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GRANT AGREEMENT
Before grant funds are distributed, award recipients must sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
that describes each entity’s roles and responsibilities. A sample MOU is attached.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Grant recipients are required to file a Final Performance Report 30 days after completion of the project.
These forms will be emailed to grant recipients once grant awards have been made, or upon request.
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Maine Farmland Trust
2012 Farmland Protection Grant Program
APPLICATION FORM
Please write or type directly on this form. If more space is needed, you may answer questions on
separate paper. However, please limit each response to no more than ½ page.
Application materials may be submitted by email. Alternatively, applicants may send 1 copy of the
materials via US mail (see Application Instructions for more details).
1. PROJECT SUMMARY
a) Project Type
Donated Easement:
Purchased Easement:
Fee acquisition:
b) Project Title (or Farm Name):
c) Landowner(s) Name:
d) Farm Location:
(Street address)
(Town)
(County)
Total Acreage:
e) Acreage:
Open/tillable acres:
Wooded acres:
f) Farmland Soils:
Acres in Prime Farmland Soils:
Acres in Soils of Statewide Importance:
Acres in Soils of Local Importance (only available in select counties):
Acres in Unique Farmland Soils (ie. blueberries):
2. ORGANIZATION CONTACT INFORMATION
a) Name of Organization:
b) Address:
c) Telephone:
d) Name & Title of Project Manager:
e) Email address of Project Manager:
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3. ORGANIZATION SUMMARY
a) a) Year organization was founded?
b) Number of staff?
c) Total acreage conserved:
a) d) Describe your experience
with drafting, monitoring, and
enforcing agricultural
conservation easements.
Full-time:
Part-time:
Acres under easement:
# of easements:
Acres owned in-fee:
# of fee parcels:
Farmland acreage
under easement:
# of fee farmland
parcels:
Farmland acreage
owned in-fee:
# of farmland
easements:
We are new to farmland protection work, but are eager to learn more.
We have completed 1-5 farmland protection projects
We have completed 6+ farmland protection projects
Comments (optional):
b) e) Do you currently use a
boilerplate agricultural
easement document? If so,
does it cover the following?
c) f) Indicate who you anticipate
being the easement holder for
this property.
No
Yes, it includes the following (check all that apply.):
Designates Farmstead Areas. If so, is the Farmstead Area covered
by the easement? _
___________
Ability to construct new farm-related buildings and infrastructure.
Allows for construction of farm worker housing.
Allows reconfiguration into 2 separate farm parcels (if suitable).
Discusses Forest Management Plan.
Discusses NRCS Conservation Plan.
Our organization (MFT is willing to assist your organization if it is new to
agricultural easements.)
MFT (MFT generally prefers to NOT hold easements that could be held by a
local or regional land trust, but will do so where that is the best alternative.)
Another land trust (please list:
)
4. DESCRIPTION OF FARM OPERATION
a) Current Farm Uses
(check all the apply)
Beef
Blueberries
Dairy
Goats
Hay
Hogs
Horses
Orchard
Poultry
b) Briefly describe the current farm
operations. Document the
commercial activity on the farm
including how farm products are
marketed.
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Sheep
Vegetables
Other (list):
c) If the property is not currently
being farmed, describe plans to
make it a working farm.
d) Briefly describe potential and/or
past agricultural uses of property.
e) If applicable, discuss how the
farm could be an outstanding
demonstration of innovative
agricultural practices.
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f) Discuss whether the property is
threatened by conversion to nonfarm use. For example, is the
property going through generation
transfer? Is the farmer struggling to
stay in business? What is the level of
development pressure in the area?
g) Is the property enrolled in any
of the following Current Use Tax
Programs? (check all that apply.)
h) Is any part of the land rented by
farmers who rely on its
availability?
Tree Growth (If so, when was Forest Mgt. Plan last updated?
Farmland
Open Space
Yes (If so, explain briefly how farm is used by tenant farmer(s)):
No
i) Does farm have NRCS
Conservation Plan?
Yes (If so, when was it last updated?
No
j) Does project involve more than
farm property, multiple
landowners, and/or multiple
conservation partners?
Yes (please explain)
No
k) List active farms in close
proximity to the property.
Provide farm name, town, and type
of farm.
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)
)
l) List nearby protected land (not
necessarily farmland) (map if
available)
Provide property name, easement or
fee holder, and town. OPTIONAL:
attach a map indicating farm
locations.
m) Describe why MFT’s support of
this project is critical to the
project going forward to
completion.
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Maine Farmland Trust
2012 Farmland Protection Grant Program
PROJECT BUDGET
Please write or type directly on this form
Organization Name:
Organization’s current annual OPERATING budget: $
Items
Total Cost
MFT Funds
Requested
Matching Funds:
List amount &
source (cash match -
Matching Funds:
List whether secured
or pending
Costs
incurred
50% minimum)
Survey
Appraisal*
Environmental Assessment
Title search
Title insurance
Legal fees
Closing costs/filing fees
Baseline Documentation
Consultant/Contractors**
____
Staff costs (project mgt. &
coordination)***
____
____
Equipment***
____
____
____
____
Stewardship Fund***
Other (specify)****
TOTAL
* MFT funds available for land trust appraisal only.
** MFT funds are not available, but may be used as match.
*** MFT funds are not available, and may not be used as match, but MFT encourages these amounts to be listed under
‘Total Cost'.
**** Please check with MFT on whether this item is eligible before submitting application.
Proposal prepared by:
Title:
Signature of Board President or Executive Director:
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Date:
__
Maine Farmland Trust
2012 Farmland Protection Grant Program
PROJECT SCHEDULE
Please summarize below the timeline for project activities, including an overview of what has been
accomplished to date, the parties currently involved, and goals with anticipated completion dates.
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SAMPLE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
DATE
NAME
ORGANIZATION
ADDRESS
Dear Grant Recipient,
Congratulations on your recent award of $____ from Maine Farmland Trust’s Farmland Protection Grant program.
This grant has been awarded to support the project identified in your application.
As you know, the grant funds are available on a reimbursement basis, with payment available soon after the time of
closing. NOTE: Grant funds will not be distributed until you submit a Final Performance Report.
Please review and initial the following requirements to ensure that you understand the grant guidelines:
_____ Grant recipients shall notify MFT staff when a date has been set for closing on an easement.
____
Grant recipients must complete a Final Performance Report prior to payment. This report may be submitted
at the time of closing, or soon thereafter. (Report materials are enclosed and have been emailed to you as
well.)
____
Grant recipients are asked to credit MFT in any publicity about the grant and in broader publicity about the
project (wherever appropriate).
____
Grant recipients are asked to allow MFT to contact the relevant property owner regarding our “Forever
Farms” program. This program recognizes conserved farmland with signage and a website listing.
(Depending on the landowner’s interests and comfort level, website information may or may not provide
detail about the farm’s location or operation. Forever Farm signage could be installed in tandem with any
signage your organization may be considering. If you are considering your own signage, please contact us.)
_____ Grant recipients shall notify MFT in writing if there are any substantive changes in the project from what
was detailed in the grant application, and to do so as soon as practical. (A “substantive” change would
include any change that affects the project timetable, project partners, or the overall terms of the easement.
If you have a question of whether a change is substantive, please contact MFT to ask our opinion.)
Please sign and date below to indicate your agreement with the above requirements. Return the letter to MFT at
your earliest convenience, but no later than 30 days from the date of this letter. Failure to return a signed agreement
to MFT within 30 days could result in loss of grants funds being put aside for your project.
If you have questions or comments, please contact Erica Buswell at 338-6575 or
ebuswell@mainefarmlandtrust.org.
Sincerely,
Erica Buswell
REVIEWED AND AGREED TO:
_____________________________________
RECIPIENT NAME
_____________________
DATE
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