Local Strategies for Protecting Farmland

Municipal governments play an important role in protecting farmland from non-agricultural development. Towns can guide important regulatory policy, identify critical open spaces, and ensure farmers are engaged in local planning initiatives that consider development and conservation priorities. By proactively developing ordinances that protect the agricultural use of the land and limit the impact of non-agricultural development on important farm soils and active farmland, municipalities can help their community maintain the land base and agricultural resources needed for farmers to sustain and grow their operations now and in the future. Join us for a presentation and discussion on local strategies for protecting farmland in the Sebasticook region, and an update on what Maine Farmland Trust has learned since the 2024 publication of their town planning guide, Cultivating Maine's Agricultural Future.

As the Municipal Policy Planner at Maine Farmland Trust (MFT), Krista Chappell provides education and technical assistance to municipalities to support…