Welcome to PASA’s Farm Lease Connection (FLC), a program that blends web technology with personal communications to build successful farm enterprises between new or expanding farmers and landowners of all kinds. The program currently hosts listings for land in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In every recent survey, new and beginning farmers cite access to land as the number one barrier to farming. FLC enables farmers to gain access to land who wouldn’t otherwise be able to farm due to the high cost of land ownership and lack of initial capital. Parcels of land as small as a ¼ acre up to hundreds of acres are all potentially eligible for inclusion in the program.

There is currently no fee to participate in the program. All it takes is a completed application registration and a desire to be a part of the sustainable farming community.

Although we do not require farmers to receive Food Alliance certification, we do ask that all of our farmers follow Food Alliance’s commitment to safe and fair working conditions, humane animal treatment and careful stewardship of ecosystems. For more information about Food Alliance, click here.

How does Farm Lease Connection (FLC) work?
Once you register, you will be given access to log into the FLC site and search the confidential listings of landowners looking for farmers like you. The listings contain basic information like the county where the property is located, available water sources and how the land was previously used, to preserve user privacy and keep both parties open to considering a variety of options. When you show interest in a potential match, FLC staff receive a notification and will contact you for further details about what you are looking for. Then, we take the relationship building process to the next level: by arranging phone interviews, site visits and in-person, mediated meetings.

If both parties determine a successful match can be made, FLC will point you toward a range of valuable land leasing resources to help get your farm started.

Why Leasing?
Beginning farmers often have the same two frustrations: limited access to land and money. Land leasing can help overcome those obstacles by allowing beginning farmers to build equity without the obstacle of initial purchasing costs.

For more information and statistics on the difficulties purchasing farmland in southeastern Pennsylvania, click here for the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s 2008-2009 study. To read about a real-life situation in which PASA's leasing program helped create a new farm enterprise, click here.

How Do I Begin?
Fill out and submit a Farmer Application registration. Once you register, you will receive an account activation email at the email address you used on your registration. If you don't receive an email within a couple of minutes, check your spam folder to make sure it didn't get misdirected. After clicking on the activation link in the email, you will be able to use the username and password you created on your registration to log into the FLC site and search for land.

If you haven’t done so already, get started on your future farm’s business plan. Sustainable farming means more than the way you farm the land, it’s about creating a long-term, financially viable business. Having a business plan is a great way to appeal to a landowner and demonstrate you are serious about making a match.

How Long Will It Take?
Matching farmers and landowners is not a quick process. It takes time to find the right combination of people and land. FLC encourages participants to apply at least two years before they are ready to break ground on a new farm business.

Land Leasing Checklist for Farmers and Landowners
Click here to see PASA's land leasing checklist. It's a helpful starting point for farmers and landowners interested in forming a leasing partnership.

Land Leasing FAQ
Click here to see a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions and legal definitions prepared for PASA by researchers at Penn State University's Dickinson School of Law. PASA will help you ask the right questions and build relationships with potential landowner partners, but we do not assist in the actual creation of the lease. Every leasing arrangement is unique and we believe it's best to let farmers and landowners own this particular aspect of the process.

Recommended Land Leasing Consultants
George Elser, Esq. can offer legal guidance involving farm land leases, land conservation, dispute mediation and legal ethics. He typically represents individuals, families, small businesses and non-profit organizations. To schedule a consultation with George, please contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 610-964-9627.

Ted LeBow, business consultant/COO & Partner at Philly CowShare, has nearly 25 years experience advising small business owners and local farms, with a focus on making sure they are profitable. Ted brings a unique combination of advisor, owner and business perspective to the table.  As a partner in Philadelphia CowShare  (www.phillycowshare) and long time farmer and small business owner (he got his first loan from the Production Credit Association to buy steers at age 13, in Idaho) Ted works with numerous local farms and small businesses in Philadelphia area. To schedule a consultation with Ted, contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 610-324-6973. He also offers a PASA member discount so be sure to mention it!

Helpful Resources for Farmers
FLC has a blog where farmers and landowners can read posts written by others involved in leasing and comment about their own experiences; an event calendar with links to helpful classes, workshops and conferences; and the list of resources and other organizations below with proven track records of assisting new and beginning farmers. You can also contact us directly!

Farming Organizations: PASA, Penn State Extension, Cornell's Northeast Beginning Farmers Program, National Young Farmers Coalition, Land for Good, Tri-State CRAFT.