Small Acreage Next Generation Program (SANG)
The Small Acreage 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 between 10 and 49 acres.
The SANG Program addresses two key challenges:
Helping young or beginning farmers obtain financing for the purchase of farmland between 10 to 49 acres and
Helping to secure a viable future for Maryland's agricultural industry by preserving working farmland for future generations.
In the original Next Gen Program, the subject farm properties are typically at least 50 acres in size or contiguous to preserved property, thus limiting some beginning farmers from being able to use Next Gen Program resources to purchase small farms.
The SANG program is designed to fill that gap.
The Small Acreage Next Generation Program (SANG)
Overview
The Small Acreage Next Gen Program (SANG) is essentially a farmland conservation easement option purchase program designed to help facilitate the transfer of farmland to a new generation of farmers and helps to preserve 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.
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.
Contact County Ag Preservation Program Office
People interested in applying to the SANG Program are requested to make contact with their county ag preservation program office in the county in which the farmland is located, 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 no later than a month in advance.
For business planning resources, download the University of Maryland Extension and Agriculture Law Education Initiative flyer. Additional resources can be found on the MARBIDCO Business Development Resources page.
The Small Acreage Next Gen Program application deadline, including submission of all required forms and related attachments, is monthly. Applications are due on the last business day of each month by no later than 4:00 p.m., at the MARBIDCO office in Annapolis.
Further information about the SANG Program and to send completed applications contact Allison Roe, Financial Programs Officer/Program Coordinator, by telephone at: (410) 267-6807, or by email at: aroe@marbidco.org.