NWNM New Farmer Network

The Northwest New Mexico (NWNM) New Farmer Network addresses both the aging farmer crisis in our region and the increasing demand for local specialty crops in the regional markets. The mission of the program is to foster the next generation of farmers in San Juan County by increasing access to land and providing farmers the support they need to grow.

The average age of our farmer is 60.5 years old, and many Northwest New Mexico producers are focused on commodity crops such as alfalfa. There is a demand for assistance to build a network to connect privately owned farmland in our area to beginning farmers. The NWNM New Farmer Network will create an inventory of available farms in our country and facilitate communications, aggregate resources, and aid in the leasing process. Working with NMSU Extension, Farmington Ag Science Center and the Harvest Food Hub, the network would also provide technical assistance on specialty crop production and marketing in the region.

LandLink NM Website

Without a doubt there is a growing market for local food in our state; however, New Mexico faces many challenges in meeting this demand – including an aging farmer and rancher population, loss of agricultural land, and soaring land values. Now is the time to create a plan for the future of agriculture in our region. Approximately thirty established land linking programs across the country have similar goals but offer services to meet localized needs. A number of regional partners have provided input on creation of this site and about the best ways to facilitate land linking for New Mexico. LandLink New Mexico seeks to link agricultural landowners and existing farm and ranch operators with the next generation of farm and ranch land stewards.

Visit the NM LandLink Website.

Resources for Landowners and Land Seekers

View the Farmland Legal Access Toolkit.