The Virginia Farm Link Program

The Virginia Farm Link program was established by the General Assembly in 2001 as a part of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' (VDACS) Office of Farmland Preservation (OFP), with the purpose of providing assistance in the transition of farm businesses and properties from retiring farmers to active farmers. In 2003, VDACS partnered with Virginia Farm Bureau to develop a Farm Link database to help bring together farm owners and farm seekers as the first step in the implementation of this new program. In May 2008, a significantly revised version of the database was launched at www.vafarmlink.org. In addition to simplifying the applications for farm owners and farm seekers, the revised database also allowed participants to input their own information online and to electronically contact each other. 
 
Since its release in May 2008, the Virginia Farm Link database has resulted in 55 farm owners contacted by 193 farm seekers, representing 599 individual contacts between farm owners and farm seekers. In August 2009, OFP conducted an evaluation of the Farm Link database and interviewed 24 farm owners who had participated. Those interviews revealed that ten of the 24 farm owners have had additional conversations with at least one of the farm seekers. Based on farm owner comments shared with the OFP in the August interviews, we believe that three of these ten will most likely result in successful farm transitions. 
 
To find out more about participating in the Virginia Farm Link database, please go to www.vafarmlink.org.
 
Elaine J. Lidholm
Director, Office of Communication
Va. Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Oliver W. Hill Building
102 Governor Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804/786-7686