A Snapshot of Massachusetts
Agriculture
NAAMO Conference
July 12, 2015
www.Mass.gov/AGR
Perspective:
United States Population Density
• Massachusetts is 3rd most densely populated state
• 852 residents/square mile; 9 times the national average
• Massachusetts farmers face development pressure, high land values,
harsh winters, and other challenges unique to the Northeast.
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Perspective:
U.S. National Agricultural Production
Annual Agricultural Value
New England
1%
• Total Agricultural Value
$395 Billion
Massachusetts
17%
United States
99%
• New England Total Value
$2.8 Billion
• Massachusetts Total Value
$492 Million
New England
83%
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Perspective: MA Agriculture
 Annual market value $492 million
 7,755 farms
 Over 523,000 acres
 Average farm
 68 acres
 $64,000 annually
• Agricultural Processing and agricultural
support industries add value and jobs to
state’s economy
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National Trends in Agriculture
Massachusetts had a 1% increase in the
number of farms and a 1% increase in
land in farms. Land in farms saw a 14%
decrease in cropland and a 29% increase
in pastureland.
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Snapshot of Massachusetts Agriculture
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Economic Impacts
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Census Statistics: Farm Size
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Census Statistics: Economic Class
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Census Statistics: Age of Operator
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Census Statistics: Female Operators
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Trends in Massachusetts Agriculture

Increasing numbers of farms
Massachusetts Farmland
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
-
Farmland (acres)
Number of Farms
Massachusetts Farms
1995
2000
2005
2010
524,000
522,000
520,000
518,000
516,000
2015
1995
2000
Year
2010
2015
Year
Consumer demand for locally produced foods
•Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs)
•Farm Stands
•Farmers Markets
•Farm to School Programs
•Boston Public Market
Growth in Farmers Markets
Farmers Markets

2005
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Year
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Produce Availability
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New Product Opportunities for Farmers
Farmers are moving from commodities to selling
services and value added products -diversification/differentiation is key:
Agri-tourism, Culinary Tourism, Value Added products
Direct Marketing
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Agricultural Processing
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Source: A Report by Farm Credit East 2012, “The Overlooked Economic Engine: Northeast Agriculture”
MA Agriculture Snapshot
Massachusetts Agricultural Output - 2012
Dollars per Commodity
Other Fruits
7%
Cranberries
20%
Greenhouse and Nursery
31%
Other Livestock and
Poultry
9%
Milk
9%
Other Crops
8%
Vegetables
12%
Aquaculture
4%
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Source: New England Agricultural Statistics 2012
Greenhouse and Nursery
Market value of $144,188,000
31% of MA agricultural output
Over 1,000 commercial greenhouse and nursery operations
•Potted plants
•Perennials
•Bedding plants
•Cut flowers
•Vegetables & herbs
•Trees
Biggest Concerns:
•Competition (e.g. Home Depot, Lowes)
•Housing
•Marketplace uncertainty
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Greenhouse and Nursery
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Cranberry and Other Berries
Total Market Value of
$103,440,000
Cranberries: $99.8M or 96%
20% of MA agricultural output
•400 cranberry growers
•Price reports of as low as
$6/barrel
•Average Cost of Production
(COP) $13/barrel
Biggest Concerns:
•Supply > Demand
•Stagnant demand, increasing
supply
•International Production
•COP > Price/barrel
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Cranberries and Other Berries
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Fruits and Vegetables
Market value of $103,354,000
1,634 Total Produce Farms
•1,428 Vegetable farms
•206 Fruit farms (excludes berry growers)
Biggest concern: Food Safety Modernization Act
Economic Analysis based on FDA methodology:
•166 farms covered by the rule
•Remainder falls under exemptions
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Fruits and Vegetables
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Dairy
Market value of $44,250,000
9% of MA agricultural output
147 dairy farms
9 producer dealers
13,000 milk cows
Farmer Milk Prices
Value added: Cheese guild
25.000
Dairy Tax Credit
Biggest Concerns:
•Fluctuating FMMO prices
•COP > FMMO price
$/cwt
20.000
15.000
10.000
5.000
0.000
Apr-01
Jan-04
Oct-06
Jul-09
Apr-12
Dec-14
Year
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Dairy
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Aquaculture
Market value of $23,251,000
4% of MA agricultural output
200 Aquaculture Farms
1,000 acres of intertidal and
subtidal land
Biggest Concern:
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
•Proactive management by
growers
•Development of best
management practices
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Aquaculture
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Livestock and Poultry
Livestock market value of $14,523,000
•Over 2,000 farms
Poultry market value of $11,748,000
•Over 1,200 farms
•Value-added
•Increasing demand
•People willing to pay a premium
Biggest concerns:
•Demand > supply
•Need for additional processing and
slaughterhouse facilities
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Livestock
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Poultry
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Agency Overview
Our Mission
• Ensuring the long-term viability of agriculture in
the Commonwealth
• Helping to keep Massachusetts’ food supply safe
and secure
• Working to keep Massachusetts agriculture
economically and environmentally sound
• To support, regulate, and enhance the rich
diversity of the Commonwealth’s agricultural
community
• Fulfill agriculture’s role in energy conservation and
production
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MDAR’s Divisions
• Division of Agricultural Markets
• Division of Animal Health
• Division of Crop & Pest Services
• Division of Agricultural Conservation
& Technical Assistance
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Division of Animal Health
The health and safety of the
Commonwealth’s domestic animals is
the Division of Animal Health’s
•
primary responsibility. Through
inspections, licensing, awareness and •
education the Division helps to
•
ensure the general welfare of
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companion and food-producing
•
animals across the state.
•
When problematic situations •
develop, Animal Health staff work
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with the Department of Public
•
Health, the Animal Rescue League of •
Boston, the MSPCA, local
•
veterinarians, local health
•
departments, municipal animal
inspectors and animal control officers •
to respond. Mounting a rapid
response ensures the fewest number
of animals and animal owners are
affected.
Animal Health Programs
Homeless Animal Prevention and Care
Fund
Animal Imports and Livestock Markets
Biosecurity Program
Dairy Program
Equine Program
Farm Emergency Plan
Municipal Animal Inspectors
Pet Shop Licensing and Inspection Program
Poultry Program
Rabies Control Program
Reportable Disease Program
Shelter and Rescue Program
Swine (Porcine) Program
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Division of Crop and Pest Services
•

The Division of Crop and Pest Services is responsible for the regulation of the agricultural
industry and pesticide application services in Massachusetts through the diligent
inspection, examination, licensing, registration, quarantine, and enforcement of laws,
regulations and orders.
Pesticide Program
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Pesticide Licensing and Certification
Pesticide Product Registration
Pesticide Enforcement
School Integrated Pest Management
Rights-of-Way Management
Groundwater Program
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)
State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board (SRMCB)
Farm Products and Plant Industries
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Apiary Inspection Program
Feed Registration and Certification
Fertilizer Registration and Certification
Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS)
Nursery Registration and Inspection
Phytosanitary Inspections
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
Forest Pests
Fruit and Vegetable Inspection
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Division of Agricultural Conservation and
Technical Assistance
The Division of Agricultural Conservation and Technical Assistance (DACTA) promotes
agricultural land preservation, environmental stewardship, technology, and technical
assistance to meet the challenges of 21st century farming.
• Technical Assistance
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–
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Aquaculture
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
(CAFOs)
Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and
Renewables Program
• Outreach and Education
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Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Agricultural Business Training Program (ABTP)
On Farm Strategies to Protect Water Quality
• Land Use
–
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Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program
(APR)
State-Owned Farmland Licensing Program
Environmental Review Regulatory
Agricultural Composting Program
Farm Technology Review Commission (FTRC)
Milkhouse Wastewater Pilot Program
• Grants and Funding Programs
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Agricultural Energy Grant Program (Ag-Energy)
Agricultural Environmental Enhancement
Program (AEEP)
Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program
(AFSIP)
APR Improvement Program (AIP)
Farm Energy Discount Program
Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP)
Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance
Program (MEFAP)
Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture
Program (MEGA)
Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) Retrofit
Program
Urban Agriculture Program
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Agricultural Preservation Restrictions
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Agricultural Food Safety Incentive
Program
•Funding to upgrade their food safety
measures on farms
•Fund practices that help minimize the risk
of microbial contamination and food-borne
illnesses.
•Reimbursements up to $20,000 or 75% of
total project costs.
• Wildlife fencing, packing shed walls,
ceilings and light fixtures, hand washing
sinks, restrooms, drainage systems, water
systems, ice machines, and harvest gear.
•Additional consideration to applicants who
are participants in the Commonwealth
Quality Program (CQP), are currently
audited under a Good Agricultural Practices
(GAP) certifier
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Urban Agriculture
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Division of Agricultural Marketing
The Division of Agricultural Markets offers field expertise in the development and support of
innovative market venues, business expansion, grant opportunities, and consumer and
industry outreach. Through its award-winning MassGrown & Fresher initiative and
the Commonwealth Quality Program, the Division seeks to cultivate new opportunities for
consumers to gain greater access to local agricultural products while endorsing high quality
standards for growers and producers.
Programs
Services
•Agricultural Markets Program
•MDAR Logo Program
•Agricultural Directional Signage Program
•Massachusetts Agricultural Fairs Program
•Agricultural Tourism
•Culinary Tourism
•Farmers' Market Nutrition Program
•MassGrown & Fresher
•Commonwealth Quality Program
•Farmers' Markets
•Export Development
•Farm and Market Report
•Farm Stands and Farmers' Markets Resources
•Farm to School Project
•Organic Cost Share Program
•Value Added Food Products
•Agricultural Event Certification for Wine Sales
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MassGrown & Fresher!
•A ubiquitous well-known brand promoting
Massachusetts agricultural produce, products, and
initiatives.
•Award-winning website initiative.
•Point-of-sale material.
•Direct Marketing Campaign
http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/
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Commonwealth Quality Program
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Farmers Market Nutrition Programs
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Communities with Agricultural Commissions
and Right to Farm Bylaws
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For more information…
www.mass.gov/agr
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