Farmland Partnership Program 2026

The Massachusetts Farmland Partnership Program (MFPP) FY26, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), offers financial and technical assistance to organizations dedicated to implementing the Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan (MFAP). This grant initiative aims to protect farmland, increase access to farmland, and enhance the viability of farms across Massachusetts. MDAR seeks to cultivate a collaborative cohort of partners to carry out work aligned with specific tasks outlined in the MFAP implementation matrix. These partners may include municipalities, regional planning agencies, conservation districts, tribal entities, non-profits, and other legally recognized organizations with a significant presence and operational capacity in Massachusetts. Funding under this program must be used for services that support the MFAP’s three core goals: farmland protection, farmland access, and farm viability. Activities must be explicitly tied to one or more MFAP tasks, identified by 4-digit codes in the matrix, and should not duplicate efforts already funded by existing state or federal programs. There are four eligible activity categories: Farmland Protection, Farmland Access, Farm Viability, and Integrated Projects addressing all goals. Each applicant may request between $100,000 and $1,000,000, although single-entity applicants are generally encouraged to keep requests below $300,000. The grant requires at least a 5% cash match, with lower matches considered with appropriate justification. Applicants are required to submit comprehensive proposals including a cover letter, detailed project narrative, activity-based budget using a specific template, resumes of team members, and financial statements. The project narrative must cover organizational background, goals and objectives, detailed activity plans, timeline, budget justification, key personnel, collaboration plans, performance indicators, communication strategies, sustainability plans, and geographic scope. Projects should also address environmental justice and engage historically underserved farmers, aligning with MDAR’s Environmental Justice Strategy. The application period for MFPP FY26 opens on February 19, 2025. Two informational webinars are scheduled for March 11 and March 31, 2025. Applicants may submit written questions by March 17 and April 11, with answers posted by March 27 and April 28 respectively. Completed applications must be emailed to MDAR by 5:00 PM on May 19, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced in September 2025, and contracts will commence approximately in November 2025, running through October 31, 2027. Projects will be reimbursed quarterly, with the final 10% disbursed upon completion and submission of final deliverables. The program encourages collaboration and mandates regular coordination with MDAR through bi-monthly or quarterly check-ins, depending on the year and staffing stability. All partners must also attend up to four cohort-wide meetings or events annually. The grant emphasizes sustainability, requiring applicants to demonstrate how their work and partnerships will continue beyond the grant period. For further information, contact Katharine Otto, Farmland Action Plan Coordinator, at katharine.s.otto@mass.gov or 413-544-2400.