Small Acreage Next Generation Program (SANG)
SANG helps new Maryland farmers buy and preserve small farms by funding conservation easements that protect land for agriculture and support generational farm transfer.
Funder: Maryland Agricultural and Resource Based-Industry Development Corporation
Due Dates: July 1, 2026 (County contact & Property Seller's Information to county) | July 31, 2026 (Full application to MARBIDCO; monthly recurring deadline)
Funding Amounts: 30%–60% of fair market value (FMV) of land only, capped at $6,000/acre; total program funding at least $2 million statewide.
Summary: Supports young and beginning farmers in Maryland with down-payment assistance to acquire and preserve small farms (10–49 acres) through a conservation easement purchase.
Key Information: Commercial lender participation required; county contact and seller paperwork due one month before application.
Description
The Small Acreage Next Generation Farmland Acquisition Program (SANG) is designed to help young or beginning farmers in Maryland overcome financial barriers to farmland ownership, particularly for smaller properties (10–49 acres) not eligible under other state programs. Through SANG, MARBIDCO purchases a permanent agricultural conservation easement on the property, providing the farmer with 30%–60% of the land's fair market value as a down payment. This approach both enables land acquisition and ensures the long-term preservation of agricultural land by extinguishing development rights. The program is competitive, prioritizing applicants with limited resources and experience, and aims to facilitate the transfer of farmland to a new generation.
