MARBIDCO Land Preservation and Next Gen Programs
Small Acreage Next Generation("SANG") Program
Small Acreage Next Generation Program ("SANG")
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.
The SANG Program addresses two key challenges:
1) Helping young or beginning farmers obtain financing for the purchase of farmland between 10 to 49 acres; and
2) Helping to secure a viable future for Maryland's agricultural industry by preserving working farm and forest land for future generations.
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.
The Small Acreage Next Generation Program
The Small Acreage Next Gen Program is essentially a fast-moving farmland conservation easement option purchase program that is designed to help facilitate the transfer of farmland to a new generation of farmers, and help preserve the small acreage agricultural land from future development. Using the SANG Program, MARBIDCO is able to provide 40% to 60% of the Fair Market Value (FMV) (land only) in exchange for a permanent agricultural conservation easement, and that money is used as a down-payment to purchase the farmland.
While there is no age restriction to participate in the program, persons who are “beginner farmers” will have a greater likelihood of being selected to participate. A “beginner farmer” is defined as not owning a farm or ranch (or owning less than 9 acres), not operating a farm or ranch as a principal operator for more than 10 years, having at least one year of farming experience, and expecting to substantially participate in the farming operation on the subject property.
People interested in applying to the SANG Program are requested to make contact with their county farmland preservation program office (in the county in which the farmland is located) by no later than a month before submission, to discuss the suitability of a subject farm being permanently preserved. Moreover, certain required paperwork prepared by farm property sellers must be received in the county office by no later than a month in advance.
The Small Acreage Next Gen Program application deadline (including submission of all required forms and related attachments) is on a monthly basis, with applications due on the last business day of each month by no later than 4:00 p.m., at the MARBIDCO office in Annapolis. Late applications will not be accepted. Most approved SANG Program farm purchases can be completed in 6 to 8 months. A commercial lender is also required to be involved in the transaction.
Download Application PDF
Further information about the SANG Program may be obtained by contacting Allison Roe, Financial Programs Officer, by telephone at: (410) 267-6807, or by email at: aroe@marbidco.org.
For business planning resources, download this University of Maryland Extension and Agriculture Law Education Initiative flyer. Additional resources can be found on the resources webpage.