NH Farm to School Workgroup

moharimet maple sugaring

The NH Farm to School Workgroup is a short-term, time-limited workgroup convened to inform the future direction, priorities, and strategic focus of NH Farm to School as it transitions into its next phase. Over approximately five meetings, the workgroup will gather input from key stakeholders to assess current needs, opportunities, and gaps across education, agriculture, and food systems. Insights from this process will help guide programmatic, policy, and partnership decisions to strengthen farm to school efforts statewide and better support New Hampshire farmers, schools, and communities.

This workgroup is led by:

  • Laura Alimayu, NH Farm to School Coordinator, UNH Extension
  • Mike Smith, NH Ag in the Classroom, UNH Extension

The NH Farm to School workgroup will be launched in February 2026.  The four meetings of this time limited workgroup are as follows: 

  • February 16, 2026 1:00 to 2:30pm
  • March 16, 2026 1:00 to 2:30pm
  • April 20, 2026 1:00 to 2:30pm
  • May 18, 2026 1:00 to 2:30pm 

 If you are interested in joining this workgroup, please fill out the form linked below.

 JOIN THE WORKGROUP

Recommendation Status Brief Topic Type of Action
Provide opportunities for education and peer learning on resilient cropping practices
Organize educational events (i.e. pasture walks, cover crop tours) to highlight practices that improve the resilience of cropping systems and…
Not Started Animal Feed Program creation, support, or expansion
Develop New Hampshire-specific resources to facilitate cropland conservation
Resources should prioritize sites designated as prime farmland and could be split into materials for land trusts and landowners and should include…
Not Started Animal Feed Resource/tool creation, support or expansion
Incorporate agricultural preservation into the Master Planning Process
Add “Agriculture & Food Production” as a section on the list of optional sections in the Master Plan statute (RSA 674:2) and encourage Master…
Not Started Land Use Planning Policy/Regulation
Identify high-value agriculture soils and prime farmland
Create a map viewer identifying high-value agriculture soils and prime farmland in support of farmland protection and smart decision-making at the…
Not Started Land Use Planning Resource/tool creation, support or expansion, Research/Study
Launch and fund a circuit rider program for regional planning commissions
A circuit rider program would provide funding for New Hampshire’s regional planning commissions to support communities with the adoption of farm-…
Not Started Land Use Planning Program creation, support, or expansion, Investment/Funding
House agriculture-friendly tools and land use regulations on a central website
Create a central website with tools and local land use regulations that communities can adopt to become agriculture-friendly. The site could be…
Not Started Land Use Planning Resource/tool creation, support or expansion, Research/Study
Address PFAS issues as public health priorities
Prioritizing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a public health issue includes developing PFAS testing, research, standards, and…
Not Started Soil & Water Program creation, support, or expansion, Investment/Funding, Policy/Regulation, Research/Study
Continue state funded support for source water research
Research should include storm sampling of streams draining agricultural areas, protection grants, and restoration projects.
Not Started Soil & Water Program creation, support, or expansion, Research/Study
Utilize networks to address causes of nonpoint source water pollution
Networks, like the Lakes Management Advisory Committee and Rivers Management Advisory Committee, help address causes of non-point source water…
Not Started Soil & Water Coordination/Network development or support
Create and maintain on-farm water resources
Support farmers’ ability and resources to create and maintain on farm water resources. These man-made and natural resources, including water…
Not Started Soil & Water Program creation, support, or expansion

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