About Maine Farmland Trust

Maine Farmland Trust is an award-winning statewide organization committed to strengthening farming in Maine.

Our mission is to:
• Protect and preserve Maine’s farmland
• Keep agricultural lands working
• Support the future of farming in Maine

Structured as a land trust, MFT’s is the state’s leading force in preserving farmland, often working in partnership with local and regional land trusts.

But MFT is equally engaged in keeping farming vital. Through FarmLink, we place next-generation farmers on land. Through our Buy/Protect/Sell program, we help make farmland more affordable for farmers. And through our Farm Viability projects, we help existing farmers prosper, through both direct assistance and innovative community projects.

We realize that part of our challenge is to “get the word out” about the great promise of Maine agriculture that can be realized if we are smart in retaining the land base, maintaining our farm infrastructure, and providing opportunities for young farmers.

Your membership adds to the growing numbers of people (from across Maine and beyond) who are committed to this cause. It is only through a large, informed, and totally committed group of people supporting MFT’s critical work that farming in Maine will ever realize its full potential.

Click map to enlarge

A Proven Track Record of Success

Since our founding in 1999, MFT has participated in over 130 land transactions that have preserved more than 24,000 acres of farmland. MFT is leading the efforts of farmers, landowners, local land trusts, farm groups, towns and state agencies collaborating to keep Maine’s productive agricultural land available for farming now and in the future.

Though proud of our accomplishments, we realize that so much more needs to occur.

MFT has set an ambitious goal: to preserve 100,000 acres in the next five years. Though ambitious, the goal is reachable. More importantly, the goal is necessary.

MFT estimates that as much as 400,000 acres of Maine’s best farmland (or about one-third of the state’s farmland resource) will be in transition in the next 10 years, simply because of the age of the landowners. Much of this land is at risk of not being available for farming in the future unless MFT and its partner groups successfully intervene.

MFT’s goal to preserve 100,000 acre is supported by a detailed plan to get us there, and by a major fundraising campaign that will be publically launched in late 2010.

A Trusted Leader in Farmland Protection

MFT works closely with local and regional land trusts that want to preserve farmland.  We provide such groups with technical support (conceiving projects, drafting, easements, etc.)  Where possible, we also provide financial support.  We increasingly partner on project fundraising, and also operate the Farmland Coservation Grant Program to help local and regional land trust cover up to $10,000 for porjects that enable land trusts to permanently protect active farmland in Maine through conservation easements (donated and purchased) and fee acquisition.


Nonprofit Excellence

Maine Farmland Trust received the 2009 Dirigo Award for Nonprofit Excellence in the small organization category from the Maine Association of Nonprofits.  This award is presented annually to Maine organizations that have achieved significant results by combining ingenuity with sound management practices and principles.


Meet the Maine Farmland Trust Staff & Board of Directors

About Maine Farmland Trust

Maine Farmland Trust is an award-winning statewide organization committed to strengthening farming in Maine.

Our mission is to:
• Protect and preserve Maine’s farmland
• Keep agricultural lands working
• Support the future of farming in Maine

Structured as a land trust, MFT’s is the state’s leading force in preserving farmland, often working in partnership with local and regional land trusts.

But MFT is equally engaged in keeping farming vital. Through FarmLink, we place next-generation farmers on land. Through our Buy/Protect/Sell program, we help make farmland more affordable for farmers. And through our Farm Viability projects, we help existing farmers prosper, through both direct assistance and innovative community projects.

We realize that part of our challenge is to “get the word out” about the great promise of Maine agriculture that can be realized if we are smart in retaining the land base, maintaining our farm infrastructure, and providing opportunities for young farmers.

Your membership adds to the growing numbers of people (from across Maine and beyond) who are committed to this cause. It is only through a large, informed, and totally committed group of people supporting MFT’s critical work that farming in Maine will ever realize its full potential.

Click map to enlarge

A Proven Track Record of Success

Since our founding in 1999, MFT has participated in over 130 land transactions that have preserved more than 24,000 acres of farmland. MFT is leading the efforts of farmers, landowners, local land trusts, farm groups, towns and state agencies collaborating to keep Maine’s productive agricultural land available for farming now and in the future.

Though proud of our accomplishments, we realize that so much more needs to occur.

MFT has set an ambitious goal: to preserve 100,000 acres in the next five years. Though ambitious, the goal is reachable. More importantly, the goal is necessary.

MFT estimates that as much as 400,000 acres of Maine’s best farmland (or about one-third of the state’s farmland resource) will be in transition in the next 10 years, simply because of the age of the landowners. Much of this land is at risk of not being available for farming in the future unless MFT and its partner groups successfully intervene.

MFT’s goal to preserve 100,000 acre is supported by a detailed plan to get us there, and by a major fundraising campaign that will be publically launched in late 2010.

A Trusted Leader in Farmland Protection

MFT works closely with local and regional land trusts that want to preserve farmland.  We provide such groups with technical support (conceiving projects, drafting, easements, etc.)  Where possible, we also provide financial support.  We increasingly partner on project fundraising, and also operate the Farmland Coservation Grant Program to help local and regional land trust cover up to $10,000 for porjects that enable land trusts to permanently protect active farmland in Maine through conservation easements (donated and purchased) and fee acquisition.


Nonprofit Excellence

Maine Farmland Trust received the 2009 Dirigo Award for Nonprofit Excellence in the small organization category from the Maine Association of Nonprofits.  This award is presented annually to Maine organizations that have achieved significant results by combining ingenuity with sound management practices and principles.


Meet the Maine Farmland Trust Staff & Board of Directors