One of the toughest parts of farming can be finding and accessing the right kind of land to grow your business on. New and beginning farmers are encouraged to reach out to their local extension office staff as well as visit the general resources on the sidebar to help guide them through their path to farmland.
Lease Land
Thirty-eight percent of land being farmed in the U.S. is leased. Young farmers–those who are 34 and younger–lease 64 percent of the land they farm. For beginning farmers and those looking to expand their operation leasing land offers an affordable option and provides flexibility. The following resources are pulled from Land for Good, American Farmland Trust and the Center for Agriculture & Food Systems.
- Land for Good
- Toolbox for Leasing Farmland. This toolbox included resources for both farmers and land seekers, lease and rental agreement samples
- Elements of a Good Farm Lease
- Build-a-Lease online interactive tool
- American Farmland Trust
- Center for Agricultural & Food Systems
Purchase Land
Owning farmland provides a secure tenure option, allows you to own the improvements you make, and can serve as collateral to back a loan. Access the following resources to learn more about purchasing farmland and the organizations out there that can help you navigate the process.
Evaluate Land
Once you have chosen whether to lease or purchase, the resources below can help you assess site conditions and variables best suited to your operation.
- Guide to Finding, Assessing and Securing Farmland, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (pdf) – This guide will help you answer:
- What kind of land am I looking for?
- What sort of land tenure situation is right for me?
- How do I get started with my land search?
- What should I look for during a farmland visit?
- How do I negotiate with a landowner and sign an agreement to use the land?
Find Land
Click the land resources below to be matched with farmland for sale or lease in our area.
Additional Resources:
Tilth Alliance – Offers classes, farm walks, funding, and farmer resources.
Washington Farmland Trust – nonprofit land trust working to protect and steward threatened farmland in Washington. They work to keep land in production by making it accessible to future generations of farmers.
American Farmland Trust – ATF’s three priorities: protecting agricultural land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land.
Land for Good – Includes a comprehensive online Toolbox for Farm Seekers looking to purchase or lease land.
USDA New Farmers Website- listing of tools and resources that USDA offers to new farmers/ranchers.
Farm Answers – Farm Answers is the USDA-NIFA beginning farmer and rancher (BFRDP) clearinghouse, providing resources to help you get started farming, as well as tools to help more seasoned producers succeed. Their site includes a farmland access toolkit.
Land Access Resources by County
Not finding what you are looking for? Contact your local extension staff with questions.
Clallam County
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Clallam County Department of Community Development – Responsible for comprehensive planning, zoning, and processing of development and building permits
- Clallam County Assessor’s Office – Find land tax assessment and parcel search map
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North Olympic Land Trust – North Olympic Land Trust has conserved over 3,300 acres of land that sustains the communities of Clallam County. They work to conserve open spaces, local food, local resources, healthy watersheds and recreational opportunities.
- Clallam Conservation District – Provides assistance to farm and livestock owners on a variety of land and livestock management topics.
Jefferson County
- Jefferson County Department of Community Development – DCD drafts land use policy and regulations, shepherds proposals through the public process, and implements policies and regulations adopted by the Board of County Commissioners
- Jefferson County Assessor’s Office – Find land tax assessment and parcel search map.
- Jefferson Land Trust – From the shoreline to the timberlands, they are protecting some of Jefferson County’s most fertile farmland, richest spawning grounds and busiest wildlife corridors.
- Jefferson Landworks Collaborative – LandWorks works directly with landowners and potential farmer/ foresters on a case-by-case basis to determine the needs of their operation.
- Jefferson County Conservation District – They help all Jefferson County citizens achieve sustainable land use objectives while protecting and enhancing the area’s natural resources.
Kitsap County
- Kitsap Conservation District – KCD offers technical assistance to landowners, including: Farm conservation plans, pasture & manure management, and assessing farm properties before you purchase.
- Kitsap County Department of Community Development – Permitting, Kitsap County code and Comprehensive Plan information and resources.
- Kitsap County Assessor’s Office – Find land tax assessment and parcel search map.
- Bainbridge Island Land Trust – The Land Trust acquires interests in land having significant or potentially significant conservation values.
- Great Peninsula Conservancy – A nonprofit land trust dedicated to protecting the natural habitats, rural landscapes, and open spaces.
- Friends of the Farm – They manage 60 acres of publicly owned farmland, providing affordable housing for farm interns, and connect farmers with landowners for affordable farmland.