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TOWN OF LINCOLN, MASSACHUSETTS
CONSERVATION COMMISSIONTOWN OFFICES
P.O. Box 353
Lincoln Center, Mass. 01773
(617) 259-8850November 12, 1997
Dear Farmers,
The Conservation Commission would like to notify all interested farmers that 16 fields are available for lease (see enclosed list). Enclosed are copies of the Request For Proposals, lease forms and applicable policies, rules and regulations. Please note the addition of two documents: "Good Farming Conservation Practices for Leased Fields" and "General Considerations for the Lease of Fields". The specific criteria set forth in the "Good Farming Conservation Practices" document will be used by the Commission to evaluate all farmland proposals. At a minimum farmers, in submitting their proposals, should address each of the 13 criteria specified in the "Good Farming Practices" document.
Because the number of farmers expressing interest in the fields far exceeds the number of fields available, farmer's may want to submit proposals for "second choice" fields. Please clearly indicate on your proposals whether you are requesting more than one field, or if you just want to farm one field but are flexible in terms of its location.
Proposals in conformity with the requirements set out in the Request For Proposals are due in the Conservation Office by the close of business on December 22, 1997. Public meetings to discuss the proposals will be held in January; the Commission will subsequently award the farmland leases.
Please do not hesitate to contact me (259-2612) if you have any questions about the Request For Proposals or any of the Conservation fields. On behalf of the Commission, thank you for your interest and support.
Sincerely,
Geoff McGean,
Conservation Administrator
LINCOLN CONSERVATION COMMISSION
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (11/97)
The Town of Lincoln, by and through its Conservation Commission, hereby requests proposals from persons wishing to lease for agricultural purposes any one or more of the following parcels of farmland, owned by the Town:
Conservation Commission Agricultural Fields for Lease: [Table of town fields available for agricultural lease]The rental rate shall be: $30/acre for row crops, $25/acre for hay, and $25/acre for pasture. There shall be no rental charge for delayed cut hay fields which have been set aside to accommodate nesting grassland birds. The term of the leases shall be from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2002.
Leases shall be on the Commission's standard form, and shall be subject to the Commission's Farmland Rental Policy, Pesticide Policy, Farmland Wildlife Policy, Good Conservation Practices For Leased Fields and such amendments and such other policies, rules and regulations as the Commission shall promulgate.
Applicants must submit, by letter, the following: a) A proposal for each of the five-years, on the Commission's Land Use Planning Form, for usage of one of the available parcels, including proposed crop, fertilizer and pesticide use, and any cover crops, crop rotation, etc.;
b) A written description of proposed farming activities which addresses each of the 13 criteria specified in the "Good Farming Practices" document;
c) A detailed description of present farming activities, including acreage and location(s) farmed, crops raised, ownership, nature and location of equipment, number of seasonal and permanent employees, and description of farming practices;
d) A statement that the applicant is willing, if awarded a lease, to execute a lease on the Lincoln Conservation Commission's standard form: to abide by the Commission's Farmland Rental Policy, Pesticide Policy; Farmland/Wild life Policy, Good Conservation Practices For Leased Fields and to abide by any and all other existing policies, rules and regulations governing the use of Lincoln farmland during the term of the lease. The applicant must also agree to abide by any new policies which the Commission may adopt during the lease period.
[Some boilerplate not included here.]
The Commission will review all timely proposals which conform to the above requirements, and will select the proposal which, in the Commission's judgment, is most likely to promote the policy goals of the Commission.
Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of information supplied therein; the Commission past experience, if any, with the person or entity making the proposal; and such other information as the Commission is able to obtain and deems reliable.
Awards are made solely at the discretion of the Commission and the Commission reserves the right not to award a lease if, in the Commission's sole discretion, no acceptable bid has been received or if the Commission should decide to leave a parcel fallow for a period.[Proposals were then evaluated on sheets containing these criteria.]
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