Resources

Legal Referral Network

Central New Mexico LandLink offers resources and assistance to beginning and established farmers. Our free legal referral network, made up primarily of real estate attorneys, can help with business planning and provide legal assistance during the land transfer process.

Pro Bono Resources

J. Brent Ricks: brentinabq@gmail.com (505) 269-0876

Other Legal resources

Lauren L. Zabicki (for land in Valencia or Socorro Counties): lzabicki@gmail.com (505) 269-0876
Gretchen Elsner: gretchen@elsnerlaw.org (505) 977-9402

If you know of any other resources, please email them to LandLink at localfoodnm@mrcog-nm.gov so we can share them with farmers and ranchers like you! Farm Commons is an online resource with a variety of guides and forms on numerous topics with farmers.

templates

Sample Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Sample Lease Agreement
A Guide to Farmland-Use Agreements in New Mexico

Councils and associations

New Mexico Apple Council: Information on membership, cooperative marketing and distribution of NM grown apples, events and workshops, and tips for orchard production.
The New Mexico Beef Council: Learn about their marketing programs to enhance the profitability of beef production in New Mexico.
The New Mexico Beekeepers Association: Learn about beekeeping seminars, workshops, meetings and more.
The New Mexico Cattle Growers Association: Learn about their programs for promoting the New Mexico cattle industry and membership opportunities
The New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association: Information on New Mexico farmers markets, direct marketing, and more.
New Mexico Wine Growers Association: An organization dedicated to promoting New Mexico wineries and wine products.
Quivira Coalition: Learn about their approach called the New Ranch, which includes progressive ranch management, riparian and upland restoration, and much more. They offer a variety of publications, workshops, and programs in addition to an annual conference.
Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance: An alliance of producers, consumers, land managers, conservationists, and researchers working to improve the health of people, livestock and the land through the promotion of grassfed livestock.
The New Mexico Wool Growers Inc: nmwgi@nmagriculture.org (505) 247-0584

organic certification

The New Mexico Organic Program: Learn about the organic certification process, how to market organic products, and more.

irrigation and water

Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District: The MRGCD manages over 1,200 miles of irrigation ditches and canals in the Middle Rio Grande region. Learn more about their programs and water management.
New Mexico Acequia Association: Learn about the association and their programs to protect water and preserve agricultural traditions.

nm cooperative extensions

Farmland preservation

American Farmland Trust: A national organization with a variety of great programs and publications related to farmland preservation.
Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust: Learn about farmland preservation in the Middle Rio Grande.

NW region of New Mexico

Northwest New Mexico New Farmer Network: The NWNM New Farmer Network works with specialty crop farmers to connect them with landowners looking to lease their land to be farmed.
Buy Fresh Buy Local Northwest New Mexico: The mission of Buy Fresh Buy Local NWNM is to support, strengthen, and advocate for the local food system. Our goal areas are health, economic vitality, and accessibility.
San Juan College Harvest Food Hub: The San Juan College Harvest Food Hub, and EDA University Center project, is strengthening the local food system in San Juan County by working with farmers and businesses to increase sales and consumption of locally grown produce. The goal of the food hub is to increase market opportunities for local farmers into restaurants, schools, and other retail outlets and institutions.

other local resources

Edible Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos: A key resource for communicating messages from the local food community.
Farm to School: A program of Farm to Table that promotes local food, agriculture, and nutrition education in schools.
Farm to Table: An organization working to promote locally based agriculture through a variety of programs.
New Mexico Agri-Cultura Network (American Friends Service Committee): Training beginning farmers in organic food production for institutional buyers such as the public schools.
New Mexico Association of Food Banks: Learn about donating crops and help address hunger issues in New Mexico.
New Mexico Department of Agriculture: Information on NMDA programs, licensing, inspections, and more.
New Mexico Farmer to Farmer Training Program (American Friends Service Committee): Provides comprehensive hands-on-farmer-to-farmer training.
New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council: A collaborative organization working on a variety of food and agriculture related issues in New Mexico.
The Mixing Bowl: Learn about their kitchen for entrepreneurs.
Delicious New Mexico: An entrepreneurial network for food-based enterprises.
New Mexico Native Bee Pollinator Project: The NM Pollinator Project is identifying potentially important crop pollinating native bees in New Mexico, and works to preserve, increase, and where possible, to manage native bee populations.
Southwest Marketing Network: A program that works to expand markets for small scale, alternative, and minority producers in the Southwest.

national resources

Farmland Access Legal Toolkit: A free, web-based resource designed to proved legal tools to new farmers looking to access land and retiring farmers ready to transfer land to a new generation.
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service: Their extensive publications are a must see. From soil management and composting to marketing and risk management, they have the information you seek.
Startup Incubators: Via Tufts University Sustainable Farming Project: National Incubator Farm Training Initiative