BOSTON — Nine farms across the state received $710,140 through the Agricultural Preservation Restriction Improvement Program (AIP) earlier this month, money that will largely help renovate and modernize barns essential to a healthy food system. 

Three of the recipients, Amherst Nurseries, Brook’s Bend and Chase Hill Farm are located in Franklin County

Additionally, Just Roots recently received $146,000 through the Food Security Infrastructure Grant from the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The grant will fund the renovation of the main portion of the farm’s historic barn.

“Our Commonwealth must continue to invest in our farms and farmers who greatly contribute to our food system,” said state Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “This is what makes the APR Improvement Program a win-win for all of us, our farms and farmers receive the funding they need to modernize their operations, and we reap the benefits of sustainable farming for years to come.” 

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ (MDAR) grants provide business planning, technical assistance, and funds to commercial farms with land that has already been protected through MDAR’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program to help sustain active commercial farming on the land.

“The assistance provided through AIP will help fund critical infrastructure investments on protected farms,” said  Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Massachusetts is committed to supporting our farms through this important farm viability program. This will ensure the continued economic vitality of our agricultural sector.”

Sawmill Herb Farm 

Susan Pincus who runs an organic medicinal herb farm on leased land at Brook’s Bend Farm in Montague received $60,000 for barn renovations. She runs her operation on the land along with her partner Ryan Richards who runs an Icelandic sheep farm called Little Song Farm.

“It is pretty amazing to get this grant. It would not be possible without it,” Pincus said. “It is huge for us to receive state grants. The amount of money we receive for our crops is not enough to pay for all our expenses so we need it for our capital expenses.” 

Pincus is currently transitioning her farm, which regularly has about 100 CSA shares each summer, from Florence to Montague. When she first found the land there was a barn on the property, but she explained it had a dirt floor and was an open space structure so it could not be used during all four seasons. The barn will be used for packing CSA shares as well as a location for educational classes.

“Our intention is to be able to create an experience for people to visit the farm,” Pincus said. “We are excited to have people come to visit next season.” 

Amherst Nurseries

Amherst Nurseries based out of Charlemont and Hadley received $120,000 to fund a portion of the construction costs for a new barn. 

Amherst Nurseries grows nursery stock for wholesale sale to landscapers, municipalities and arborists. They grow many different kinds of trees for planting along roadsides. Farm Owner John Kinchla noted that having a large variety of species selection is an increasing challenge as the climate changes over time. 

Kinchla explained the new barn will store equipment and young plants. He said the grants allow the business to expand with better financial confidence.  The farm was harmed in the recent flooding of the summer.

“We lost several of our new plantings and had a difficult time keeping weeds out of the fields. This created more work for us and greatly reduced the crop we planted this spring,” Kinchla wrote in an email. 

“Like all the farms in our area, every year presents its own set of challenges. We work through these challenges to produce the best product possible,” Kinchla said.  

Just Roots

Greenfield-based community farm and food access organization Just Roots’s award of $146,000 provides for critical infrastructure improvements to the farm including repairs to the barn’s slate roof, installation of energy-efficient windows, and new flooring to increase the space’s efficiency and accessibility. Additionally, the award will upgrade the barn’s electrical systems to support the growing need for climate-controlled food storage spaces, as the structure transforms from a dirt-floored livestock barn to a hub aggregating locally grown food, including produce from Just Roots’ own fields. They hope to complete the project by early summer 2024. 

The award was announced after a visit by the Healey administration to Just Roots earlier this spring where state officials toured the community farm and learned about the barn’s ongoing transformation. Beginning in 2019, Just Roots has made infrastructure improvements to the barn. Prior Food Security Infrastructure Grant funding allowed for renovations that ensured the structural integrity of the space. Other additions were completed in 2021 and 2022.

Through their Franklin County CSA and their MassHealth-partnered Farm to Family program, more than 500 families in western Massachusetts receive weekly fresh, locally grown food from Just Roots. Funding will expand Just Roots’ ability to provide local food year-round to food insecure households across the state, and will provide reliable markets to over two dozen other local growers. 

“The barn at Just Roots serves as the hub for nearly all of our post-harvest production and distribution work,” Meryl LaTronica, Director of Farm Operations at Just Roots said. “Most of those spaces have inadequate light, and uneven flooring, creating inefficiencies every step of the way … Our systems will become safer, more efficient and more productive, allowing us not to just work smarter but to ultimately serve more people through our food access programs.” 

Chase Hill Farm

Warwick’s organic meat and dairy farm Chase Hill Farm received $120,000 from the grant. They will use funds to complete a heavy use area and manure management structure, construct an additional hay storage barn, and repair an existing dairy and hay barn. These projects will improve the dairy herd's health and productivity, feed quality, and operational efficiency.

“The valuable business and technical assistance provided through AIP will help these farms stay in business for many more generations,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “We thank these farm families for their commitment to preserving our workable farmland in the commonwealth and keeping it sustainable for years to come.”

Reach Bella Carmela Levavi at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com