MARBIDCO Land Preservation and Next Gen Programs
Rural Land Preservation Facilitation Programs
Protecting Maryland’s Working Farm and Forest Land
MARBIDCO is committed to supporting the sustainability and profitability of Maryland’s agricultural, forestry and seafood industries, while at the same time helping to ensure the viability of the rural working landscape that we have come to cherish in this State.
In addition to our loan and grant programs, MARBIDCO also offers a couple of programs that helps to facilitate the preservation of rural land. Our newest program, the Next Generation Farmland Acquisition Program, helps to address a two-fold challenge: one, assisting young farmers with obtaining farmland and by helping to finance the purchase, and two, with helping to preserve that land from future development.
Photo: Remsberg Inc.
Rural Land Preservation Facilitation Programs
MARBIDCO offers financing opportunities in conjunction with other State and local agencies, with MARBIDCO serving as a conduit financing agent. These opportunities include “installment purchase agreement” programs with the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) and the Next Generation Farmland Acquisition Program, which can be eventually paired with funding from state or local government agencies and/or private land trust organizationsssss.
Next Generation Farmland Acquisition Program ("Next Gen Program")
Young and beginning farmers face unique challenges when it comes to finding land to farm and buying farmland. This exciting new program addresses those challenges and at the same time enables the State to further its mission to help preserve good agricultural land.
Working with farmland conservation programs and commercial lenders, MARBIDCO offers assistance to young and beginning farmers with down-payment funding for the purchase of farmland. During the process, the development rights are temporarily extinguished on the farmland being purchased, and eventually the land will be permanently perserved.
The upcoming State Budget includes $2.5 million for this program. Contact MARBIDCO or your county agricultural land preservation program office for more information. Read more details about the program here.
NEW! Small Acreage Next Generation Farmland Acquisition Program ("SANG" Program)
The Small Accreage Next Generation Program (SANG) is available to help qualified young or beginning farmers who have trouble entering the agricultural profession, because of relatively high farmland costs and lack of access to adequate financial capital, to purchase smaller farmland properties that are between 10 to 49 acres.
These properties are not eligible for the original Next Generation Farmland Aqcuisition Program, but need specialized financial assistance to enter or continue in agriculture.
In the original Next Gen Program, the subject farm properties typically needed to be at least 50 acres in size (or contiguous to preserved property), thus limiting these young and beginning farmers from being able to use Next Gen Program resources to purchase small farms. This program is designed to fill that gap. It also requires that applicants own no more then 9 acres when they apply.
Read more details about the program here. Contact MARBIDCO or your county agricultural land preservation program office for more information.
Installment Purchase Agreements (IPAs)
Installment Purchase Agreements (IPAs) provide a tax-advantaged financial agreement structured to benefit both the landowner and participating State or county farmland preservation agency. There are two types of IPAs: 1) “self-funded” (which have been offered in the past by MARBIDCO on behalf of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, or "MALPF"), and 2) “leveraged” (which can be offered in partnership with individual county governments).
Unfortunately, no IPA transactions have been facilitated since the onset of the Great Recession. Additionally, because of State budget constraints, easement sellers are now required to pay all the IPA transaction expenses. Please note that MARBIDCO no longer offers IPAs.
How To Apply For MARBIDCO Rural Land Preservation Facilitation Programs
Requests for rural land preservation assistance are made on a competitive basis. Please see specific program pages for full details, deadlines and application requirements.
MARBIDCO’s Review Committee is made up of individuals with experience in agricultural lending, land conservation, and agriculture and resource-based business. The committee will rank applications for funding and make recommendations to the MARBIDCO Board of Directors.
Application packages for the Next Gen Program and SANG are on our Application Forms page.