In 2023, Roger Short made the decision to sell the farm that had been in his family for nearly eight decades. The unexpected buyer was none other than the nearby port authority. Located in Port Townsend, Washington, the 253-acre property had been home to Roger, his wife Sandy, their six children, and 600 dairy cows. After selling the cows in 2003 to focus on beef and topsoil production, Roger mourned the loss of the animals for two years.
Now at the age of 82, Roger acknowledges that the land is challenging to farm, especially as he has grown older and lost his eyesight. Despite concerns about finding a suitable buyer, Roger was determined to ensure that the land remained a farm. In 2016, he secured a conservation easement, committing the property, which includes areas prone to flooding and lacking irrigation, to remain a farm in perpetuity.
Eron Berg, the executive director of the Port of Port Townsend, noted the challenges posed by the easement. Without it, the farm could have been divided into smaller parcels, making it more accessible to newer farmers. Instead, the port purchased the property for $1.4 million, with the intention of leasing portions to local growers.
This dilemma is not unique to Roger’s farm. Across the country, the next generation of farmers grapples with the issue of protected farmland that may not align with their needs or financial capabilities. As a result, many acres of farmland remain underutilized at a time when the U.S. is losing farmland and seeing increased consolidation in the agricultural industry.
Martin Federickson, who leases 75 acres of the Short property for his cattle, acknowledged that purchasing the entire farm was not financially feasible for him. The practice of conservation easements has been likened to using outdated technology, as it may not always align with the evolving needs of farmers.
While the nation’s approximately 7.9 million preserved acres represent a small portion of U.S. farmland, they serve as a valuable resource for younger and small-scale growers. Conservation easements, which involve selling development rights to preserve the land, are a popular choice among many farmers, including those looking towards retirement.
Roger and Sandy Short still make visits to the farm where they raised their family and livestock, reflecting on the legacy of the land that has been an integral part of their lives for generations.
Children. He has depended on her help since he lost his eyesight.
“We often romanticize the notion of small, family-owned farms with a few cows, a chicken, and a tractor, but the scale at which farms become commercially viable for efficient and affordable food production is much larger,” Sherrick explained. “It’s becoming less likely for individuals to own the entire farming operation.”
Despite this trend, many small farmers express disinterest in maximizing food production at the lowest cost or competing with large-scale growers. Some find that conservation easements create challenges for small-scale farming.
Jeff Benton, who owns a 20-acre farm called Orange Circle Farm in Berwick, Maine, uses only a portion of his land due to conservation easements. He prioritizes crop diversity, sustainable practices, and maintaining his organic certification over expansion. Since 2011, the number of organic farms in the U.S. has nearly doubled, typically being one-third the size of conventional row-crop farms.
Benton, 41, believes there would be more farms in his area if land could be subdivided, which the easement prohibits. He stated, “If I have reached the desired capacity for my vegetable farm, scaling up doesn’t align with my goals. However, there could be other farms interested in this land.”
The Port of Port Townsend purchased the Short farm to prevent wealthy buyers from complying with easement requirements by simply having horses on the property. Benton recognizes the importance of easements in protecting farmland from developers but suggests exploring new approaches to keep land in production rather than solely undeveloped.
Easements are still held by the original farmers in many cases, but the possibility of them being passed on or sold is increasing as older farmers retire. As demographic shifts occur in the farming industry, easements remain a crucial tool for safeguarding small farms and supporting the next generation of farmers.
Land trusts are working to address these challenges and ensure that farmland remains productive and accessible for future generations, despite the changing landscape of agricultural ownership.
The needs of younger farmers are being considered as land preservation efforts continue. The 2014 federal farm bill allowed for limited subdivision opportunities, but many preserved acres had already prohibited this option. Some farmers are still establishing easements that prevent subdivision, according to Carrie Lindig, the easement program division director for the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. She mentioned that there are still farmers who are not interested in subdivision. Others face challenges with expansion due to size restrictions.
Ben Shields, owner of In Good Heart Farm in Pittsboro, North Carolina, experiences limitations on growing crops on forested land due to an easement. Despite these challenges, he found a workable solution by partnering with another farmer to grow a wider variety of fruits and vegetables on a different parcel. Shields appreciates the easement that made the farm affordable for him, although he finds the size restrictions frustrating.
Land trusts are receiving numerous requests for preserved farmland, with some facing long waiting lists. Jess Laggis from the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy mentions the importance of considering the future of agriculture and being open to different possibilities.
In Washington state, a farmer named Short reflects on his recent retirement from farming and missing the land. The property is now being leased by younger farmers like Martin Frederickson, who values the opportunity to nurture the land long-term. Despite challenges, farmers like Crystie Kisler acknowledge the benefits of easements for small farmers but also highlight the ongoing difficulties in farming.
The port authority, which owns the Short farm, prioritizes feeding the regional community and intends to keep the farm without plans to sell. They aim to maintain the land for agricultural purposes rather than for profit.
The region.”
