DIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND USE 

 Thomas Storrow, Director 



The Division of Land Use works to promote the wise and productive 

 use of Massachusetts' agricultural resources. Through several programs 

 created to encourage preservation and utilization of farmland for agricul- 

 ture, the Division strives to strengthen the local farm economy and improve 

 the climate for a viable agricultural community. 



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The most important resource for agriculture is land. Massachusetts' 

 agricultural land base has been shrinking as good farmland is converted 

 to roads, industrial parks and houses. Since 1945, about one and one-half 

 million acres have been lost to urban conversion and abandonment. The 

 Division is attempting to slow this trend on both public and private 

 farmland. 



Public Lands 



Although farming programs are no longer a part of most state institutions 

 today, there are still thousands of acres of farmland surrounding Massachusetts 

 state hospitals, schools and prisons. When many of the state institutions 

 were built in the late 1800' s, they were sited on some of the Commonwealth's 

 best farmland. The institutions raised their own food and large investments 

 were made for drainage and other agricultural improvements. The Division 

 works to make these lands accessible to fairmers and gardeners for agricul- 

 tural uses. This is accomplished by entering into agreements with the 

 controlling state agencies for management of the land, and leasing or lending 

 the parcels to interested parties. 



This year, the Division administered leases to six commercial farmers 

 for about 250 acres of state land. In addition, several other state agencies 

 have independent leases with farmers for several hundred more acres. 



Two other state programs also promote the productive use of public 

 lands. Through the Community Gardening Program, about 20 community gardens 

 (some as large as 400 individual plots) were sited on state-owned land this 

 year. Through the Massachusetts Fruition Program, several thousand fruit 

 and nut trees and shrubs were planted on public and pxiblic-access lands by 

 community groups. (These programs are described in detail later in this 

 Report. ) 



In addition, the Division is working to ensure the protection of state 

 lands from conversion to non-farm uses through implementation of Executive 

 Order No. 193 which discourages the sale or lease of state-owned agricultural 

 lands for non-agricultural purposes. 



Farmland Preservation 



The largest of the Division's programs is the Agricultural Preservation 

 Restriction (APR) Program, whereby the state buys the development rights to 

 private farmland. The next section of this report covers the APR Program. 



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