EASTON — The agricultural industry is known for having significant barriers to entry, namely the high cost of farmland and other capital needs, but a newly-funded program is available to help bring about the next generation of farmers.

On May 3, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) and the Maryland Agricultural & Resource-Based Industry Development Corp. (MARBIDCO) will be hosting a regional information session on the Next Generation Farmland Acquisition Program. This exciting state-supported program — funded for the 2nd year in a row — is designed to help qualified young and beginning farmers secure long-term access to farmland, while also effectively preserving the agricultural land from future development.

This free event is open to the public and will be held at the Talbot Free Library from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on May 3. The information session will include an overview of the new “Next Gen Program,” as well as information on how ESLC and MARBIDCO could help folks secure farmland or obtain additional financial resources to help build their agricultural businesses.

“This program really is on the cutting edge – it helps to both permanently preserve important natural resources, while also assisting qualified individuals with making their way into an industry with relatively high barriers to entry,” said ESLC Policy Manager, Josh Hastings.

The Next Gen Program, administered by MARBIDCO, has an application submission deadline of July 31, 2018 and application forms should be available by May 1. Come hear how area organizations and agricultural lenders can help the next generation make their dream of farming into a reality.

For questions, please contact Josh Hastings at jhastings@eslc.org or 410-251-5268.