Morris Farm Proposal Form

MFT works to ensure that any farmer who purchases a farm from us is the best fit for that property and has a realistic opportunity to succeed. Answers to the questions below will help MFT assess prospective buyers for specific properties.

For the Narrative sections below, please provide written descriptions that cover as much of the suggested information as is relevant to you. These narrative questions are intended to allow you to clearly describe your farm vision, experience, and financial position, and give the Review Committee a clear sense of whether your application meets the listed criteria. You do not need to provide every suggested piece of information or supporting document, but be as thorough as you can be.

Your answers and any supporting documents are confidential and will only be shared with the Review Committee.

Please either fill out the online proposal form and submit online, or click here to download the proposal form and email or send by mail your completed form and any supporting documents to brett@mainefarmlandtrust.org or mail to Brett Sykes, 97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 04915.

You may save your response and return to it later by scrolling to the bottom of the form and clicking the Save button.

Name*

FirstLast

Co-applicant(s) / Spouse

Mailing Address

City

State

ZIP

Phone number

Email address

example@example.com

Preferred method of contact*

PhoneEmailOther

Are you a farmer?

YesNoAspiring

Are you currently farming?

YesNoNot currently, but have in the past

What is your farm business name?

Describe your vision for the property, including short and long-term goals for the farm operation.

Including but not limited to the following, as relevant:

How your farmland needs align with the characteristics of this property
How your infrastructure needs align with this property
How you might engage with the local community (see Background and Information section in the RFP about current community uses) and/or connect with other farm businesses in the area
What crops and/or livestock you intend to raise
Your intended market channels
Your farm mission and value statements, if applicable
Considerations you’ve given to long-term and retirement plan

Vision for the property:

Describe your farming background, detailing any relevant training and work experience. Including but not limited to the following, as relevant:

Years of farm management experience and scale of operations
Applicable apprenticeships, trainings, certifications.
Experience growing and distributing the products you describe in your farm vision (earlier in form).

Farming background:

If applicable, please provide information about your current farm operation and include any supporting documentation. Including but not limited to the following, as relevant:

Financial trends, such as changes in gross sales, net profits, and liabilities.
Describe your ability to provide financial statements
Describe the systems in place to understand and check in on financials

About current farm operation:

Supporting documents to include, if applicable: i.e. A copy of your current farm business plan, any other relevant documents

Please describe any previous challenges you have faced when trying to secure access to farmland and how this opportunity will enable you to overcome some of those challenges.

The Morris Farm will be sold at its appraised value as encumbered by an Agricultural Conservation Easement.

The final price will be determined by an appraisal commissioned within 6months of the purchase date. An initial appraisal is being commissioned now and the subsequentpurchase price is expected to fall within the range below:

Estimated Appraised Value as of June, 2025

$750,000 - $850,000 – Estimate of the appraised value of the farm before the AgriculturalConservation Easement is in place
$250,000 - $325,000 - Estimate of the appraised value of the Agricultural ConservationEasement
$475,000 - $575,000 – Estimate of appraised value as encumbered by anAgricultural Conservation Easement, as of June, 2025

Once a proposal is selected, MFT will work with the applicant to enter into a purchase and sale agreement and/or lease with an earnest money and/or security deposit required at that time.

Describe your plan to finance the purchase of the property and include any supporting documentation. Including but not limited to the following, as relevant:

A proposed lease period and timeline for financing the purchase of the property
Explain your ability to produce an earnest money/security deposit
Proposed sources of funding to meet the purchase price of $475,000 - $575,000
What support you may need to prepare a loan application

Description of financing plan:

Supporting documents to include, if applicable: i.e. A letter from a lender stating that it intends to lend the necessary capital - or other evidence of communication with potential lenders, three-year historical profit and loss statements, current year cash flow and/or cash flow projections, a business plan.

Describe any proposed contract terms or contingencies. Including but not limited to the following:

Sale of property
Inspections and tests
Timeline and financing contingencies

Proposed contingencies, if any:

As described in the RFP, the Morris Farm will be sold subject to a perpetual agricultural conservation easement restricting non-agricultural development of the property, held by MFT. It’s important that prospective buyers understand the implications of farming on land protected by an easement.

The farmland you are interested in purchasing will be subject to a conservation easement. Have you closely reviewed the draft conservation easement for this property (as included in the available package of materials on the website)?

YesNo

Do you have any experience farming on land protected by a conservation easement or other deed restrictions?

YesNo

Please describe your experience:

Do you understand that conservation easements are permanent restrictions governed by Maine law, and that substantive amendment of conservation easements is rarely permitted?

YesNo

Do you understand that owning a farm with a conservation easement often involves giving notice or receiving approval from the easement holder before changes are made to the property?

YesNo

If you have questions about agricultural conservation easements, please reach out to Brett Sykes, brett@mainefarmlandtrust.org or 207-338-6575

If you would like to upload any other documents to be considered with your application, please do so below.

PROPOSAL FORM

Farm Vision

Farming and Farm Business Experience

Farmland Access Challenges

Financial

Partnering with Maine Farmland Trust on an Agricultural Conservation Easement