N.L. young farmers launch online land-matching map
/by Matthew Carlson
The Newfoundland and Labrador Young Farmers Forum (NLYFF) is celebrating the launch of its online land-matching map, which also includes a directory function. The service launched in March with an overall goal of helping new farmers access land faster. The site featured seven land listings at its launch.
The service functions similarly to popular online classified sites. Interested landowners create an account, log in, and then answer a series of questions. They specify where their land is located, the acreage, and which crops are grown there or have been grown there in the past, along with other information. There are options for various arrangements, including renting and leasing. Those seeking land can also create a listing with the ability to request land in a particular area with certain attributes useful to their particular crops or livestock.
The map itself has a familiar look and feel, being based on Google Maps. It allows users to zoom in and see where the listings are located in relation to surrounding communities. For those who prefer a directory view, that’s also available on the site.
The seven listings presently on the site range geographically from western to eastern Newfoundland, and points in between, with none yet in Labrador. The transfer arrangements are primarily leases and rentals, with some landowners looking to sell, and one open to a revenue-sharing arrangement. Three landowners are open to assisting with a mentorship or are willing to offer advice.
“The land-matching map is a much-needed resource to connect aspiring farmers with land that might otherwise be idle,” said NLYFF chair Susan Lester. “This new resource links to other initiatives we have been working on, including our New Farmer Guide, hands-on workshops, the mentorship pilot program, and awareness pieces.”
For each listing there’s also a link to the Newfoundland and Labrador government’s land-use atlas, which users can use to check the status of each parcel of land for certain attributes such as being under lease from the provincial government.
Visit map.nlyoungfarmers.ca to check out the new land-matching map service.
(Matthew Carlson is the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture’s young farmers coordinator. He has been with the federation since 2007 and moved into his current position in 2015.)
