SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — John v.H. Halsey, President of the Peconic Land Trust, is pleased to announce the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the sale of 19.2 acres of farmland in Southold, formerly owned by the Krupski family. The Trust acquired the protected farmland in March of 2014 – the Town of Southold holds a Development Rights Easement on the property. The Trust integrated the farmland into its Farms for the Future Initiative and it has been a part of the initiative’s leasing program.
The 19.2-acre parcel has been in agricultural use and includes five structures: a Quonset hut, three barns, and a small seasonal farm labor dwelling. It is located in the Agricultural Conservation zone (A-C). The property has historically been farmed for the past 50+ years.
The Trust will sell the property to a qualified farmer subject to additional restrictions including an affirmative farming covenant and a requirement that at least 80 percent of the land be used for food production. Responses to the RFP must be submitted by Friday, October 18, 2019 at 5:00 pm.
A link to the RFP can be found on the Peconic Land Trust’s website: https://peconiclandtrust.org/2019SoutholdFarmlandRFP
About Farms for the Future Initiative
The Peconic Land Trust’s Farms for the Future Initiative includes farmland leases, incubator programs, and sales of protected farmland, some with additional restrictions that limit non‐agricultural activities, designed to assure access and affordability for farmers in the future. The majority of the lessees operate on protected farmland owned by the Trust either at our Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm in Southold or at the Deborah Light Preserve in Amagansett, home of the Trust’s Quail Hill Farm.
Objectives of the Farms for the Future Initiative:
- Keep conserved agricultural land actively farmed
- Create opportunities for farmers to start‐up and/or expand their agricultural operations
- Promote the diversity of farming and farmers on Long Island
- Encourage food production farming
- Ensure that farmland is available and affordable to farmers
To learn more about this program, please contact Dan Heston, Director of Agricultural Programs, at 631.734.5630 or dheston@PeconicLandTrust.org or Jessie Marcus, Stewardship Manager at 631.283.3195 or jmarcus@PeconicLandTrust.org.
About the Peconic Land Trust
Founded in 1983, Peconic Land Trust conserves Long Island’s working farms, natural lands, and heritage. Since its inception, the nonprofit Trust has worked conscientiously with landowners, communities, municipalities, partner organizations, and donors, to conserve approximately 13,000 acres of land on Long Island. The Trust’s professional staff carries out the necessary research and planning to identify and implement alternatives to outright development. While working to conserve the productive farms, watersheds, woodlands, and beachfront of Long Island, the Trust is also protecting the unique rural heritage and natural resources of the region. For more information about the Peconic Land Trust, visit peconiclandtrust.org.
–Peconic Land Trust
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