Re: 40 acres

Dan Hook (guldann@ix.netcom.com)
Wed, 15 Sep 1999 07:42:57 -0400

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Be advised, in our situation all concerned are in agreement not to sell. =
HOWEVER we live in a town that 50 years ago was primarily all farms. =
It is now primarily all houses. Guess there was a bit of selling out! =
We are on one of the last acreage's left. Why because we've haven't =
sold out. A year ago our property was in consideration for a school, =
emanate domain that would have been. The town made weak noises about =
purchasing our land this spring, offered us pennies(well also feel they =
do not want it for open space but municipal use). So I get a bit miffed =
when governments start noising around our land. Land I must add is =
available, open, and a working farm because of OUR hard work. We never =
want to sell, honestly. However I said it before we are not in a =
financial place that we want to or can or even think its fair to reduce =
the value of our land because other squandered theirs. We are in =
Massachusetts and they do have and APR program. We have been told that =
there is quite a waiting list and were also told don't rush into it. =
This from someone who's farm is in the APR. They have been having =
problems with the "fine print" on the contracts. I guess it keeps =
changing! =20
What would help keep more farmland open is more help to farmers, not =
handouts, but stuff like training, business advice, help in advertising =
etc. Massachusetts is I think better than many. Our land is taxed as a =
farm (we'd have to pay back taxes if we sold for big bucks), the Ma. =
Dept of Food and Ag this summer started a radio buy local campaign. =
They do have training classes and other stuff. =20
I honestly believe it isn't always as you said greed that makes someone =
sell out, but simply no reason to go one farming.
There is a chunk of land near me 60 acres I think. It has not only been =
a farm for 200+ years it has been owned by the same family. A for sale =
sign just went up. It has been zoned industrial for some time, there =
are two high tech companies already bordering it. One heir is retaining =
her houselot and a few acres. The other heirs live far away and realize =
as a farm it is unlikely any one will want it. They don't wish to farm. =
Oh and the town hasn't bought it either :). Of course the price tag is =
high (probably too high in the industrial market around here) over 1 or =
2 million. =20
Good luck to you Paul. Beth

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Schmitmeyer <ps@erinet.com>
To: Sanet <sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu>
Date: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 7:28 PM
Subject: 40 acres
=20
=20
Hello beth and all,
I understand your feelings about your right to choose. However =
can you understand that this is nothing but greed involved. You may be =
thinking "Wonder what he would say if the shoe was on the other foot?" =
Well, we are wearing one of those shoes right now. We have land the town =
wants to purchase. I don't want to but have not been able to convince my =
family otherwise. We could sure use the money. My position is still not =
to sell. All laws tend to upset someone but you have to start somewhere =
and someone is not going to like it.=20
Thats all for now.
Paul

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Be advised, in our situation all = concerned are=20 in agreement not to sell.  HOWEVER we live in a town that 50 years = ago was=20 primarily all farms.  It is now primarily all houses.  Guess = there was=20 a bit of selling out!  We are on one of the last acreage's = left.  Why=20 because we've haven't sold out.  A year ago our property was in=20 consideration for a school, emanate domain that would have been.  = The=20 town  made weak noises about purchasing our land this spring, = offered us=20 pennies(well also feel they do not want it for open space but municipal=20 use).  So I get a bit miffed when governments start noising around = our=20 land.  Land I must add is available, open, and a working farm = because of=20 OUR hard work.  We never want to sell, honestly.  However I = said it=20 before we are not in a financial place that we want to or can or even = think its=20 fair to reduce the value of our land because other squandered = theirs.  We=20 are in Massachusetts and they do have and APR program.  We have = been told=20 that there is quite a waiting list and were also told don't rush into = it. =20 This from someone who's farm is in the APR.  They have been having = problems=20 with the "fine print" on the contracts.  I guess it keeps = changing! 
What would = help keep more=20 farmland open is more help to farmers, not handouts, but stuff like = training,=20 business advice, help in advertising etc. Massachusetts is I think = better than=20 many.  Our land is taxed as a farm (we'd have to pay back taxes if = we sold=20 for big bucks), the Ma. Dept of Food and Ag this summer started a radio = buy=20 local campaign.  They do have training classes and other = stuff. =20
I honestly believe it isn't always as you said greed = that=20 makes someone sell out, but simply no reason to go one = farming.
There is a chunk of land near me 60 acres I = think.  It=20 has not only been a farm for 200+ years it has been owned by the same=20 family.  A for sale sign just went up.  It has been zoned = industrial=20 for some time, there are two high tech companies already bordering = it.  One=20 heir is retaining her houselot and a few acres.  The other heirs = live far=20 away and realize as a farm it is unlikely any one will want it.  = They don't=20 wish to farm. Oh and the town hasn't bought it either :).  Of = course the=20 price tag is high (probably too high in the industrial market around = here) over=20 1 or 2 million. 
Good luck to you Paul.  Beth
 
 
 
 
-----Original = Message-----
From:=20 Paul Schmitmeyer <ps@erinet.com>
To: = Sanet <sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu>
Date:=20 Tuesday, September 14, 1999 7:28 PM
Subject: 40=20 acres

Hello beth and all,
    I understand = your=20 feelings about your right to choose. However can you understand that = this is=20 nothing but greed involved. You may be thinking "Wonder what he = would=20 say if the shoe was on the other foot?" Well, we are wearing = one of=20 those shoes right now. We have land the town wants to purchase. I = don't want=20 to but have not been able to convince my family otherwise. We could = sure use=20 the money. My position is still not to sell. All laws tend to upset = someone=20 but you have to start somewhere and someone is not going to like it. =
Thats all for now.
Paul
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