Working Farmland Protection
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When our farmland is protected, we all benefit.
Our rural agricultural economy is sustained, local farmers markets, restaurants, and garden centers can offer fresh, local products, and we all get to enjoy the rural landscapes that make Oregon such a special place.
We need to actively protect farmland in our district. Farm acreage in Multnomah County has decreased by 65% – 52,000 acres – since 1945.
Hover on the map below to see differences in farm acreage.
We help ensure that high-quality farmland is available for current and future farmers.
Farm Transition Resources
Discover how EMSWCD may be able to assist you in planning for the future of your farm.
Forever Farm Projects
Learn about the working farms that EMSWCD is helping protect for generations to come.
Farm Transition Video Series
Find out how to get started with your farm transition, including building your team, your transition timeline and more.
Check out our Forever Farm Projects!
Learn about the Forever Farms that EMSWCD is helping to create for generations to come.
EMSWCD can assist you in planning for the future of your farm.
Learn how we can partner with you.
Contact Matt Shipkey, Land Legacy Program Manager:
Preserve the farming legacy of your property.
We can help you preserve the farming legacy of your property by purchasing working farmland easements, facilitating sales to other farmers, and buying at-risk properties.
Learn more about working farmland easements.
We can offer a working farmland easement – a cash payment in exchange for a commitment that working farmland will remain in farm use.
Pass your farm onto another farmer or make your farm a Forever Farm! EMSWCD can help facilitate the direct sale of your farm to another farmer, and reduce the purchase price by paying you the difference via a working farmland easement. In some cases, EMSWCD may be able to purchase priority farm properties if they are at high risk of conversion to non-farm uses to ensure farming can continue now and in the future.
We can help develop a proposal that fits your needs.
Contact Matt Shipkey, our land legacy program manager, at matt@emswcd.org or (503) 935-5374.
A working farmland easement is a voluntary agreement that helps guide the future use of your farm while keeping it in agriculture. Find out if it’s the right fit for you.
The easement you design allows for perpetual continued farm use and typical compatible uses. You retain rights of ownership – such as the ability to sell or will the property and to exclude trespassers – subject to the terms that have been mutually agreed upon by the landowner and the district.
While easement terms are specific to each farm property, working farmland easements primarily limit uses and activities that would restrict farm production or impact soil and water resources. Easements also ensure that farms are actively worked and remain available for future farmers.
We recognize that each property and landowner is unique. Every working farmland easement is uniquely tailored to the specifics of the property, your operation and your plans for the future.
Benefits of Protecting Working Farmland
Cash Payment
A competitive cash payment for the sale of a working farmland easement or a property.
Keep Farms in the Family
Working farmland easements may reduce financial and tax burdens for the next generation, making it easier to keep farms in the family.
Ensure Forever Farms
EMSWCD makes a commitment to ensure the property remains a working farm.
Technical Assistance
The professionals at EMSWCD offer technical assistance and possible infrastructure grants.
Farm Transition Planning Resources
- Watch our video series for an introduction to planning for the future of your operation.
- Oregon Agricultural Trust operates a personalized farm transition support program as well as occasional workshops.
- American Farmland Trust offers workshops and no-cost farm transition planning support. Contact Elizabeth Bragg at ebragg@farmland.org or (360) 641-5502.
- Oregon State University’s program offers a regular workshop series.
- Oregon State University’s Center for Family Enterprise offers learning opportunities and courses on family business planning, including transition.
- Oregon State University’s free online handbook, “Getting Organized: Business Organization and Succession Planning for Oregon Family Farms and Ranches,” teaches you how to lay a strong but flexible legal foundation for your family and business to grow through on-demand content.
- Beginning Farmers offers a helpful resource list here.
- Land for Good offers a short list of resources.
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach provides numerous templates and guides to the farm transition planning process.
- Oregon State University provides a list of family business advisor professionals.
