As family farms decline and the climate heats up, farmers weigh what to do with their land

The best way to protect his farmland was to restrict future development on it by entering into what’s called a conservation easement. He still owns the property, but he sold the future development rights of his 131 acres to the Little Traverse Conservancy, a nonprofit that acquires and protects land. The organization holds those rights even if Boyer transfers land to his kids or decides to sell to another owner down the line.

An easement can be a hard decision for farmers because land is typically their greatest asset, something that can pay for retirement or a college fund, said Joe Graham, chief financial and operating officer for the Little Traverse Conservancy.

“We’re offering them another alternative,” Graham said. “We’re offering a way to capture some of the equity and the value they have in that land without having to sell it and see it leave their ownership.”

Montana’s expansive agricultural lands and rugged terrain might make similar conservation and leasing strategies appealing to sustain family farms amid development and climate pressures. The state could also weigh the benefits and challenges of integrating renewable energy on productive land, balancing economic opportunity with preservation goals.

As family farms decline and the climate heats up, farmers weigh what to do with their land
By Vivian La, Grist