Strengthening Hatfield Agriculture for a Climate-Resilient Future
Town of Hatfield, MA
Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program
Project Overview
In 2022, RDG led a research and community engagement initiative as part of the Hatfield 2040 Comprehensive Plan, focusing on strengthening the future of agriculture. This project is part of a larger, multi-year comprehensive planning effort by the Town of Hatfield to address the effects of climate change on infrastructure, housing, and the local economy.
With some of the most productive farmland in the U.S. and a 350-year agricultural heritage, Hatfield’s planning process uniquely prioritized agriculture as a foundational component of its future. RDG worked with the Town Agricultural Commission and local farmers to pinpoint critical climate adaptation and resilience strategies to ensure Hatfield agriculture is thriving in 2040. Analysis revealed that over 80% of Hatfield’s agricultural land is degraded yet has high regeneration potential, calling for immediate soil health and flood resilience interventions.
RDG’s framework emphasizes soil-smart management practices, such as widening riparian corridors and restoring floodplain forests, which will help the town “make room for the river” and address increasing flood risks. RDG’s recommendations encourage the town to build public support for local farming, leverage funding opportunities, and engage stakeholders to sustain and advance regenerative practices. The final plan will support Hatfield farmers and equip the community to adapt agricultural operations for a climate-resilient future.
Services + Accomplishments
- Community Engagement and Stakeholder Input via public workshops and Agricultural Commission collaboration
- Analysis of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) Stocks and Regenerative Potential on local farmland
- Recommendations for resilient, nature-based agricultural practices in floodplains and wetlands
- Nature-Based Solutions for Floodplain Management
- Identification of Funding and Public Policy Recommendations
