DARTMOUTH, MA – During the summer of 2024, Buzzards Bay Coalition became one of a select few organizations nationwide to receive “certified entity” status from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Certification allows eligible entities such as land trusts that have demonstrated experience in preserving agricultural land and participating in NRCS programs administrative flexibility that can streamline projects as they move through application, enrollment and eventually closing. The end result: attracting more federal dollars for farms, getting more projects done and most importantly, more land protected.

As a result of this new status, the Coalition was able to bring the conservation of three farms to the Dartmouth Select Board for approval this fall – Tavares Farm, Jordan Farm, and Wainer Farm. The Tavares Farm conservation restriction (CR) project will protect 148 acres of land along Slades Corner Road, while allowing forestry and agricultural activities to continue. This large CR protects critical wildlife habitat and the Slocums River watershed while adding to the assemblage of protected land in the immediate area.

The CR at Jordan Farm, at the corner of Jordan and Allens Neck Roads, adds to the existing protected farmland in the area and protects the Allens Pond watershed. Farming and forestry along with vegetation management and habitat restoration are all permitted.

The Wainer Farm, also located in South Dartmouth on Barneys Joy Road, contains prime agricultural soils which will be protected by the CR due to the removal of subdivision and further development. This acquisition was done through a “Buy-Protect-Sell” transaction, in which the Coalition purchased the land, protected it with a CR, and will sell the property with the restriction that it remains farmland.