PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Environmental Management said last week it is seeking proposals to farm certain parcels of state land.

According to a news release, DEM manages several parcels that were acquired for the benefit of open-space preservation, public recreation and wildlife-resource protection. The department is soliciting proposals to raise and harvest agricultural products on some of those parcels in an effort to preserve their agricultural and wildlife benefits.

The parcels are: Eight Rod Farm Management Area, Tiverton (59 acres); Woodmansee Unit– Arcadia Management Area, Exeter (7.1 acres); Rockville Unit – Arcadia Management Area, Hopkinton (7 acres); Woody Hill – Arcadia Management Area, Hopkinton (9 acres) Wright Farm – Carolina Management Area, Richmond (96 acres); and South Shore Management Area Field 6, Finerman Unit, South Kingstown (23 acres).

According to the release, successful bidders will enter into a lease agreement with the department and pay a per-acre fee to plant and harvest annual row crops or to manage the parcels as hay fields, generally between March 1 and Oct. 1.

The RFP, along with a Proposal Offer Form and sample lease agreement, is available on DEM’s website under “Timely Topics” at www.dem.ri.gov. •