Farm Viability Enhancement Program

The Farm Viability Enhancement Program (FVEP) is an initiative of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources aimed at bolstering the long-term sustainability and economic viability of commercial farms throughout the Commonwealth. By providing targeted business planning services, technical support, and financial assistance, the program helps farms overcome structural, operational, and generational challenges that can affect their profitability and land stewardship practices. This support is offered in the broader context of preserving Massachusetts’ agricultural landscape and promoting resilient local food systems. Participants in the FVEP are selected to receive personalized, one-on-one business planning assistance designed to address their specific operational needs. This may include support in areas such as succession planning, marketing strategies, or improvements in financial tracking and management. In addition to technical consulting, farms may also be eligible to receive substantial grant funds in exchange for placing an agricultural covenant on their land. This covenant requires that the land remain in agricultural use for a period of either 10 or 15 years, thereby contributing to long-term farmland preservation goals. Depending on the needs identified through the business planning process, eligible farms may receive grants of up to $90,000, $130,000, or $175,000 to fund approved farm improvement projects. These projects may include capital investments such as building or renovating barns, farmstands, wash pack facilities, upgrading farm equipment, or making infrastructure enhancements such as fencing or well development. By targeting capital improvements that directly influence farm productivity and sustainability, the program ensures that funding yields measurable, on-the-ground impacts. Currently, the program is accepting applications for its latest cycle. Applicants must review the official Request for Response (RFR), which includes essential program guidelines and requirements, before completing the application form. Both documents are available through the COMMBUYS procurement platform. Completed applications must be submitted by 4:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. This deadline ensures timely processing and selection of eligible applicants for the upcoming program year. Evaluation of applications involves a combination of the farm’s readiness to engage in business planning, alignment of proposed capital improvements with program goals, and the farm’s overall potential to improve viability through participation. Selected participants will enter into a formal agreement with the state that includes both the covenant obligation and performance expectations regarding their proposed improvements. For more information, applicants may contact Melissa L. Adams at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources via email at [email protected] or by phone at 857-276-2377. Frequently Asked Questions and other program resources are also available through Mass.gov. The Farm Viability Enhancement Program represents a vital investment in Massachusetts agriculture, aiming to sustain and grow farming operations across generations while safeguarding the land’s agricultural use for years to come.