Merrills first Northeast dairy family to
win national land conservation prize
Editor’s Note: This article is reprinted
courtesy AgriMark News.
griMark dairy cooperative
members John and
Lorraine Merrill of
Stratham, N.H., have
been awarded with
American Farmland Trust’s (AFT)
2003 Steward of the Land Award, the
largest nationwide award for land
stewardship. The Merrills were chosen
out of 117 applications from 41
states to win the $10,000 prize, which
was presented to them for their lifelong
commitment to environmental
stewardship, public education, policy
activism and farmland protection.
“For decades, the Merrills have
been devoted to protecting not just
their farmland, but water, wildlife
habitat and natural resources on the
farm,” says AFT President Ralph
Grossi. “They truly are stewards of
our land and a great inspiration
to farmers across
the nation.”
Stuart Farm is situated
in the Great Bay Estuary
region, a coastal habitat
that encompasses more
than 10,000 acres of tidal
waters and is considered one of the
most important estuarine systems on
the East Coast. The Merrills have
gone to great lengths to ensure that
this fragile ecosystem remains intact:
they constructed a freshwater wetland
to treat waste runoff, and cooperated
with Partners for Fish and
Wildlife to restore a salt marsh on
their farm.
“The restored salt marsh on the
Stuart Farm is one of the most thoroughly
researched on the East Coast
and has become a model for similar
efforts,” said Bruce Marriott, retired
agriculture program leader at University
of New Hampshire Cooperative
Extension, who nominated the Merrills
for AFT’s award.
The Merrills’ operation, Stuart
Farm, is a 200-cow dairy farm run by
John and Lorraine, in partnership with
their son, Nathan, and daughterin-law, Judy. They were early pioneers
in rotational grazing and
other conservation practices, and
their family was among the first in
the state to permanently protect
their farm with an agricultural
conservation easement in 1981.
“It was wall-to-wall dairy
farms when we first moved here,”
said Lorraine, who noted that
there used to be more cows than
people in the town. The farm
moved to its current location in
1961 after construction of an
Interstate highway forced her
family out of northern Massachusetts.
Today, Stuart Farm is the
only dairy farm remaining in
Stratham.
The family’s environmental
achievements were accomplished
with the help of state and federal
conservation programs that
encourage stewardship on private
lands. They have also partnered with
numerous local and state conservation
organizations. Whether it’s hosting a
national Environmental Protection
Agency tour or being featured in a
nationally distributed video by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Merrills know that to truly champion
conservation activities, education
must play a central role.
AFT guide helps farmers and ranchers
transfer land to the next generation
Farmers often say, “The best way to protect my land
is to farm it.” This is true, but where will you and your
farm be 10 or 15 years from now? Too often, family
members who inherit farmland unexpectedly are left
with little choice but to sell out.
Fortunately, good estate planning can help landowners
achieve financial stability without cashing in on their
land. “Your Land is Your Legacy: A Guide to Planning for
the Future of Your Farm” offers practical estate planning
advice for today’s landowners and their financial advisors.
American Farmland Trust’s (AFT) revised and
updated guidebook illustrates strategies for transferring
land to the next generation while addressing your personal
financial goals.
“You can’t take your farm with you when you die, said
Jeremiah Cosgrove, an attorney with AFT who coauthored
the guide. “But proactively planning for the
future of your land before you retire gives you a stake in
its outcome.”
The third edition of AFT’s bestseller incorporates
recent tax changes, serving as a reminder that estate
planning, not estate taxes, is the critical issue for farm
families. While estate tax laws change, “Your Land is
Your Legacy” presents a general planning framework
that will stay relevant for years to come. Although the
guide isn’t intended as a replacement for professional
advice, it has been lauded as an excellent foundation
for both landowners and financial planners.
This guide “is the best resource I’ve seen for educating
rural landowners about their estate planning
options,” said Lynne H. Hardey, vice president and
trust officer for Comerica Bank & Trust. “Since many
rural landowners are land-rich and cash-poor, figuring
out how to pass down your land to the next generation
is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll
ever make.”
“Your Land is Your Legacy” guides readers through
the maze of estate planning options and pitfalls using
real-life examples and worksheets. One unique aspect
of the guide is its emphasis on land conservation at a
time when 1.2 million acres of farmland get consumed
by development every year.
“Land is most vulnerable when it passes from one
generation to the next,” explained co-author Julia
Freedgood, director of AFT’s Technical Assistance Services.
“With millions of acres of land changing hands
over the next 10 years, the power to protect our nation’s
agricultural resources lies with those who currently
own and manage them.”
For details on ordering “Your Land is Your Legacy, ”
which costs $13.95, call 800-370-4879. An order form is
also available on American Farmland Trust’s Web site at
www.farmland.org. For information about AFT, contact
Jill Schwartz at 202-331-7300, ext. 3011.
