If your goal is to see your land farmed or ranched, Land Link Montana is for you! Land Link is designed to assist you in finding a farmer or rancher who will be a good fit for you and your land.

We recognize that every landowner’s circumstance is unique, and we work with all types: 

o   Retiring farmers and ranchers looking to pass their land on to the next generation of producers

o   Non-agricultural landowners looking to lease some of their land to a farmer 

o   Farmers and ranchers approaching retirement looking to mentor and/or partner with a beginning farmer or rancher 

 

October.main_Grapes(Chad Harder)
Photo by Chad Harder

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO 

  • Where Do I Start Worksheet – Fill out a short worksheet focusing on big picture thinking and goals.

  • Review the information on this page to build your understanding of the program and to ensure your listing includes all the important information.

  • Browse resources for education and planning farmland access, tenure, and transfers.

  • Create an account and fill out a Landowner application.

  • Search for farm seekers in the Database.

  • Once connected with a potential farm seeker – Secure the Land.

 

HOW CAN WE HELP 

  • Provide support with lease-writing – however, all land decisions are solely made between you and the land seeker. 

  • Provide workshops and trainings.

  • Help with other potential challenges that arise.  

  • Sign up for our monthly Farm Link e-newsletter to receive updates on new land listings.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS 

To create a listing in the Land Link database: 

  1. Read through the  Land Seekers  page  to learn about what we’re asking for from them.

  2. Create a Farm Link account and fill out the  Landowner application

  3. Read through the FAQ section on the Land Lank Page 

  4. Complete the application as thoroughly and thoughtfully as you can. May take us 3-5 business days to review your application to ensure that all of the questions have been answered.

  5. If your application is approved, we will send you an email notifying you that your listing is live and giving you the link to it so that you can share it with potential land seekers, friends, and family. As noted above, from this point on the process is primarily up to the land seekers, although you can search the database for land seekers as well

  6. Once you’ve made a match in the program through a lease or purchase of property, please contact  Mary to let us know so we can remove your listing and celebrate your success! 

TIPS FOR MAKING A MATCH 

What’s the key to a successful land match?  Your story!  Landowners turn to Land Link over other real estate services because they care about the land, and they want to make a connection with someone who will be a good steward. Land seekers turn to Land Link for the same reason: to make a meaningful connection. 

As a landowner, use your profile to: 

o   Pin your farm on the map 

o   Tell your farm’s story 

o   Describe your vision for the land

o   List the farm’s characteristics 

o   Upload photos of the land and/or buildings 

Some things to consider when viewing profiles:

  • Range of things you might be open to and types of farming to which you are completely opposed.

  • Remember that the narrower your vision for your land, the more limited the pool of potential land seekers will be.

    • Think about the things that are important to you about how you use your land.

  • Make sure that your expectations are appropriate for the types of farming you’re open to.

    • Farmers and ranchers make fantastic neighbors, but it’s a good idea to think carefully through your needs and expectations and make sure you find a match that fits them well.

CathrineLWalters-12
Photo by Cathrine L. Walters

When you are contacted by a land seeker, remember to be:

Patient and open-minded with them! Typically, in our country, we access land through intermediaries – realtors – and it takes a leap of faith to call a landowner on the phone. While we encourage them to have a carefully prepared pitch ready for their call to you, there’s a chance that they will be nervous and may have a hard time explaining their plans. They also may try to be humble and may not be prepared to tell you about all of the experience they have. We encourage you to try to meet in person so that you can get a better sense of them and whether you might make a good fit for each other. Feel free to ask lots of questions when you meet and make sure that your needs and expectations will be met by any arrangement you enter into. 

FINE PRINT 

CFAC does not vet or endorse Land Link participants. It is the responsibility of the land seeker and landowner to safeguard themselves by clearly defining and clarifying expectations, checking references, and asking questions. CFAC is not a party to any land agreement and the terms of any agreements should be considered private agreements between the land seeker and landowner only.