EMSWCD is working to ensure a future for agriculture in East Multnomah County. Our farming community has let us know farmland is getting harder and more expensive to access. We have been responding to that challenge by working with local landowners to protect farmland for current and future generations of farmers. Farmers can also receive financial support and technical assistance from us to plan for the future – whether that’s continuing to farm, passing a farm to the next generation, or selling it to another farmer.
2023 Survey of Potential Participants
Recently, our “Forever Farm” program got some updates with input gathered from one-on-one interviews with more than 30 local farmers and landowners in our district. We engaged Stamberger Consulting to help us understand how to improve our working farmland protection efforts.
Based on what we heard, we made some changes:
- Removed the requirement for agricultural management plans for new working farmland protection easements
- Revised our approach to working farmland easements on commercial nursery operations. Whereas previously we would not acquire working farmland easements on properties with active “ball and burlap” operations, we will now do so
- Making working farmland easement purchase offer amounts more financially attractive
In addition to collecting valuable information and insights, the survey project helped us connect with farmers in the district. It has helped us build interest and increase peer-to-peer referrals. New project leads were generated through the survey outreach.
Your turn
Are you a farmer or landowner interested in learning more?
Visit our Working Farmland Protection page or contact Matt Shipkey, our Land Legacy Program Manager at (503) 935-5374 or matt@emswcd.org.
