meet your neighbors
Offering New Tools By Mekiya Walters
Submitted Photos
NWA FARMLINK creates opportunities for all producers Since November 2019, NWA FARMLINK has offered a free online platform where aspiring farmers can access farmland and established farmers can find new ways to use the land they have. “The family farm is rarely passed down as it once was,” reports the website, which is powered by the NWA Land Trust, a nonprofit. “Today, new farmers need help navigating their journey to farm as do farmland owners planning a farm legacy.” NWALT accepts donations from retiring farmers and resells the land at affordable prices to qualified, aspiring farmers whose proposals suit the farmland. Now, with NWA FARMLINK up and running, established farmers may also connect directly with potential buyers, farm managers, or growers interested in leasing their land. “It’s not enough to just preserve the farmland,” said Susan Koehler, the Farmland
8
Preservation Coordinator at NWALT. partners, and wholesale coop services,” “We have to preserve the human connec- as well as farmers and land. tions, the farming communities, too.” “There has to be a farm viability comAt nwafarmlink.org, users may browse ponent re the markets,” Susan explained. the profiles of aspiring farmers and “Our focus is on fruit and vegetable proavailable farmland, or view the commu- duction. Those are the products that have nity board, where local jobs, goods, and the most demand and the least supply.” services are advertised. Between 1997 and 2012, total farm“The land trust’s role is to help preserve land in Northwest Arkansas declined what farmland we can, help farmers by 50 percent, per the USDA Agricultransition through succession planning, tural Census. Today, according to NWA and support new farmers who want to FARMLINK, “the trend continues. continue on the tradition,” said Susan. New or beginning farmers face many When new members register, Susan barriers to farming, including rising helps them create public profiles on land prices, equipment costs and the NWA FARMLINK. Or, they may opt need for assistance. Exiting farmers are out of the public profile, and delaying their retirement and Susan will still help connect often don’t have a succession Fayetteville, Ark. them directly with farmers, plan for their farm. As a refarmland, and resources. sult, we’re losing our family These may include “busifarms and our region’s depenness-planning, legal, farm-fodence on an outsourced food cused financial lenders, farmsupply is increasing.” ing practices conservation Recalling the website’s inception, Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
Susan said, “These farm link websites have been used for many years, mostly in the coasts and the northeast where there’s development pressure and a desire to help rural communities continue those farming traditions. As programs developers, we looked to those others for inspiration.” NWA FARMLINK has many community partners, including the Center for Food and Farms, the University of Arkansas, and the Food Conservancy of NWA. Funding comes mainly from the Walton Family Foundation, which launched the NWA Food Systems Initiative in 2020 “to strengthen the region’s capacity to grow food for its residents by expanding opportunities for farmers and increasing consumers’ access to fresh products.” “Farm link websites have a lot of value,” said Susan. “There are resources. There’s a community. We welcome anybody who has any interest in knowing more.” MAY 30, 2022
