Sleeping Lion Farm

Springfield Center, NY, Otsego County

For Lease Business Partnership Other Tenure Agreement
Updated Mar 3, 2023

Acres Available

400

Open Tillable Acres

200

Wooded (or other) Acres

200

Infrastructure

  • Black outline of a fence Fencing
  • Black outline of a water drop Water access
  • black outline barn icon Barns - Equipment Storage
  • black outline house icon Farmer housing
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Crops Permitted

  • black outline of a carrot Vegetables
  • black outline of a flower Flowers or Ornamentals
  • black outline of a wheat germ Grains
  • black outline hay icon Hay
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Livestock Permitted

  • black outline cow icon Cattle - Beef
  • black outline dairy icon Cattle - Dairy
  • black outline horse icon Equine
  • Black outline of a sheep Goats/Sheep
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Condition & Current Use

Some of the pasture land is currently used by Sleeping Lion Farm to raise cattle in a rotational grazing system. We are actively improving the farm – renovating barns, building fences, installing water lines, adding electric access, etc. – as part of a multi-year transition from a conventional dairy to an organic, diversified livestock farm.

Soil Types

Ra: Raynham silt Loam (23.3%), LeD: Lansing Silt Loam, 15-25% Slope (20.2%), Csb: Conesus Silt Loam, 3-8% Slope (10.2%)

Farm History & Past Use

Previously a conventional dairy. We are transitioning all cropland on the property to permanently fenced pasture to support our growing grassfed beef operation, and we are aiming to certify organic in 2023.

Tenure Options

Tenure Options

For Lease Business Partnership Other Tenure Agreement

I am offering a short-term (1-3 year) opportunity for beginning farmers to access shared farmland and equipment.

Do you require a farmer who qualifies for agricultural assessment?

No

Production Preferences

Livestock / Crops Description

We're open to sharing farmland with any enterprise that makes sense and will not constrain our beef operation.

Crops Permitted

  • black outline of a carrot Vegetables
  • black outline of a flower Flowers or Ornamentals
  • black outline of a wheat germ Grains
  • black outline hay icon Hay
  • black outline other crops icon Other Crops

Livestock Permitted

  • black outline cow icon Cattle - Beef
  • black outline dairy icon Cattle - Dairy
  • black outline horse icon Equine
  • Black outline of a sheep Goats/Sheep
  • Black outline of a pig Pigs
  • Black outline of a chicken Poultry
  • Black outline of a bee Bees
  • black outline llama icon Other Livestock

Farm Infrastructure

  • Black outline of a fence Fencing
  • Black outline of a water drop Water access
  • black outline barn icon Barns - Equipment Storage
  • black outline house icon Farmer housing
  • black outline tractor icon Equipment
  • black outline electrical icon Electrical access

Equipment

54hp Kubota tractor

Brush hog

Truck w/ utility trailer & livestock trailer

Fencing

One large barnyard with permanent cattle fencing; Permanent cattle fencing in progress on 60-acre field; Older barbed wire fencing on other pasture fields

Water Access

Well access near farmhouses; Creek access in multiple fields; Mountain spring-fed system to reach all fields in progress

Barns for Equipment/Storage

On-farm self-serve store.

Three barns – two dairy barns and a beautiful bank barn.

Main dairy barn has electric and is used for storage.

Secondary dairy barn used for storage; livestock area not in use.

Bank barn used for hay storage on top level.

Potential to use space in a nearby barn for vehicle and implement storage.

Farmer Housing

No housing currently available. There is a two-family house on the property that may be available to rent in the future, but there are currently tenants with long-term leases.

Additional Property Information

We want to avoid enterprises that involve perennial crops or significant permanent infrastructure investments. 

Is the Property Conserved

No

Current Land Zoning

Agricultural

Is the property located in a NY Agricultural District?

Yes

Can the public be on the property as a part of the farm business?

Negotiable

Additional Information About This Property

We are tenants on this property, with rights to sublet the property to other producers. We are looking forward to welcoming other beginning farmers to be our neighbors! 

Our farm is on the northern end of Otsego Lake, and we have lake access at the end of our road. Boating, fishing, hiking, and hunting opportunities galore, if you're into that sort of thing. Cooperstown is 10 miles away at the south end of the lake. It's a bustling tourism destination with many opportunities for part-time/seasonal off-farm work.

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Ag Updates

Service providers speak with farmer while overlooking a field.

Starting a New Year with New Growth in New York

The start of a new year aligned with the start for new staff members and transitioning roles for our American Farmland Trust New York team! Meet Heidi, José, Mikaela, and Ashlea and learn a bit about what brought them to their work in saving New York farmland that sustains us below!

Meet Our Growing Team