• June 1, 2013 - Leasing 101 Workshop for landowners
• May/June 2013 - New Farmland Leasing Guidebook will be printed 
  

2013 update: The new leasing guide is being finalized and is expected to be printed and available in spring 2013.

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Background information on the development of the leasing guidebook:

The work to develop a new leasing guidebook has included the following:

• Researching other states’ leasing guides and sample documents;
• Surveying/interviewing NJ farmers and landowners to get feedback on their leasing experiences;
• Collecting lease and contract samples from NJ farmers and landowners; and
• Developing the guidebook using the feedback, research, and samples collected

The guidebook’s target audiences per the grant will be beginning farmers and landowners (who are looking to either access farmland or make it available), but the published guide will be useful to all farmers.

In 2012, the project team reached out to farmers and landowners to collect agricultural community feedback (see the overivew memo). To still share your feedback on current or past leasing experiences (or to comment on what you are looking for in the future), click below to do a quick survey online.

• Share your feedback - take the quick survey online
  • Survey for landowners (who are making their land available)
  • Survey for farmers (who have accessed land through a lease/contract)

2013 update: Landowners and farmers invited to attend leasing meetings in March 2013

The SADC and NOFA-NJ sponsored three regional meetings to discuss leasing resources, experiences, and opportunities. The meetings were designed to help introduce landowners to the basics about leasing and making their land available for farming, and to provide farmers with an opportunity to meet potential lease partners. The goals were for landowners and farmers to:

• Learn about leasing strategies, considerations, and opportunities
• Hear from farmer speakers on their leasing experiences and recommendations
• Network with and hear from other landowners

 The 2013 meetings were held:

• North - Thursday, March 7, 2013 - 7:00 p.m.
  • Warren County Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office
  
  
• South - Tuesday, March 12, 2013 - 7:00 p.m. 
  • Atlantic County Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office
  
  
• Central - Thursday March 14, 2012 - 7:00 p.m. 
  • Colts Neck Public Library, 1 Winthrop Dr., Colts Neck, NJ

For more information on the 2013 meetings, or to learn about when the 2014 meetings will be held, contact the SADC at hillary.barile@ag.state.nj.us or (609) 984-2504.

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For more information on the informational meetings held in 2012, see the SADC's general announcement for the 2012 meetings.

2013 update: The Leasing 101 Workshop for landowners is being offered two times in 2013

• January 2013 - The workshop was offered at the NOFA-NJ Winter Conference
• June 1, 2013 - The workshop will be offered for a second time on June 1, 2013

• Making Your Land Available for Farming: Leasing 101
  
  When: Saturday, June 1, 2013
  10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
  
  Where: Rutgers EcoComplex (directions)
  1200 Florence-Columbus Rd.
  Bordentown, NJ 08505
  
  Registration: Free - To sign up for the workshop or for more information:
  Please contact the SADC at hillary.barile@ag.state.nj.us or (609) 984-2504.
  
  Course announcement: Leasing 101 Workshop - flier

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This SADC project is part of a USDA Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program project with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA-NJ). The project applies to all types of farms, organic and traditional. The project is supported by funds from the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (NIFA #2011-49400-30739).