California Ag Network

Tag: American Farmland Trust

  • American Farmland Trust and the Farmers Market Coalition Kick Off 15th Annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration With $15,000 in Prizes

    American Farmland Trust (AFT) and the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) kick off the 15th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration™ (AFMC) today—a significant milestone to celebrate the only annual ranking of the top farmers markets in the United States as voted on by the public.

    Since 2008, AFMC has highlighted the key role farmers markets play in communities across the nation while celebrating the farmers, staff and volunteers that make markets possible. While they have long served as pillars of local food in urban centers and town squares, in recent years, farmers markets have gained the national recognition they deserve as essential businesses that power farmers and communities to thrive.

    “In many regions, farmers markets have been vital to keeping existing farms in business, enabling new farms to get started, and creating jobs and opportunity in these communities,” said John Piotti, American Farmland Trust president and CEO. “At AFT, we believe that every farmers market in America is special in its own way, helping to connect farmers to customers, customers to healthy food, and the community to the local food system.”

    The 15th annual AFMC will run between June 19 and September 18, 2023, on markets.farmland.org. The summer-long event is a fun competition that helps farmers markets across the country earn national recognition and local prestige. Markets can join the celebration and encourage their customers to vote, an excellent marketing tool and a pathway to winning a piece of the $15,000 prize pool.

    In 2023, AFT has increased the total cash prizes to $15,000 and expanded the awards to cover the top five markets nationally (compared to the top three in past years). The breakdown of prize money is as follows: $5,000 for first, $2,500 for second, $1,500 for third, $750 for fourth, $250 for fifth, and $100 to 1st in each state.  In addition to the prize money, the top markets also receive national and local press coverage, complimentary American Farmland Trust and Farmers Market Coalition memberships, I Love My Farmers Market stickers, No Farms No Food gear, a free one-year subscription to Farmers Market Metrics, and other surprises!

    The AFMC also identifies the top markets in each state and in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and Pacific regions.

    “Across the country, farmers markets are at the heart of their communities,” said Ben Feldman, Executive Director at Farmers Market Coalition. “Through constant innovation and iteration, farmers markets are a driving force for positive chances at the individual, community, and societal level. If you care about farm viability, environmental stewardship, community engagement, or just want to eat the best fruits and vegetables around, farmers markets are the place for you. The Farmers Market Coalition is thrilled to continue our partnership with American Farmland Trust to support this celebration of farmers markets.”

    “Overland Park Farmers Market had the honor of being recognized as the #1 farmers market in the nation in 2022. The recognition elevated our market, on a national level, and contributed to 2021 being the best year our market has had in its 42 years of being open,” said Kristina Stanley, Recreation Supervisor for the Overland Park Farmers Market in Overland Park, KS. “We became a destination that offered unique experiences and a hot spot for people to live, work and play. The Overland Park Farmers’ Market is the focal point and heart of this vibrant and diverse neighborhood where all are welcome. And that is the greatest achievement in receiving this award.”

    The AFMC database and interactive map on markets.farmland.org is one of the largest listings of farmers markets in the United States, containing more than 7,000 entries. Help us make sure our information is as current as possible. If you see a market listed that is no longer active, please email us at marketinfo@farmland.org and ask us to remove it.

    American Farmland Trust is the only national conservation organization dedicated to protecting farmland, promoting environmentally sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land. Since 1980, AFT’s innovative work has helped to permanently protect more than 6.8 million acres of farmland and ranchland and led the way for the adoption of conservation practices on millions more. No Farms, No Food. Learn more at www.farmland.org.

    The Farmers Market Coalition is a membership-based nonprofit with the mission to strengthen farmers markets for the benefit of farmers, consumers, and communities. Since 2006, FMC has been serving as the only national organization dedicated to supporting farmers market operators and has provided important resources, technical assistance, and advocacy to cultivate the growing farmers market field across the country. Farmers markets are essential. Learn more at farmersmarketcoalition.org.

  • AFT Releases White Papers Detailing Farm Bill Recommendations

    American Farmland Trust released two new white papers that further illustrate its priorities to increase adoption of conservation practices in the next Farm Bill. These priorities include the creation of a federal match to help states and Tribes build up their soil health programs, and increased support for farmer-to-farmer education to accelerate adoption of conservation practices.

    “AFT’s is working this Farm Bill to keep land in farming, keep farmers on the land, and to help farmers adopt sound farming practices,” said Tim Fink, AFT’s Policy Director. “Increasing adoption of soil health practices is a win-win for farmers and for the communities they serve. These practices can increase profitability and benefit water quality while also helping build resilience to and combat climate change. The white papers released today outline innovative and cost-effective ways for Congress to support farmers and ranchers build soil health in their fields.”

    Creating a Federal Match for State and Tribal Soil Health Programs in the Next Farm Bill urges Congress to build up locally-led programs that supplement and fill gaps in NRCS conservation support. For example, many state programs fund purchases of soil health equipment—a key barrier to adoption that farmers report facing and which NRCS does not fund. Since the last Farm Bill, states have been leading the way, creating new policies and programs that help producers improve their soil health. These locally-led programs are tailored to meet the needs of producers, are popular and often oversubscribed, and they invest in innovations that can inform NRCS program implementation and future Farm Bills.

    “AFT sees that state programs are an essential complement to NRCS’s work, and the Farm Bill should help to build existing programs up and jumpstart the creation of programs in states where they do not yet exist,” said Samantha Levy, AFT’s Conservation and Climate Policy Manager. “Creating this match program, which already has broad and bipartisan support, would leverage federal funding, help states and tribes develop new programs, create innovative new models for advancing conservation, and build upon grassroots leadership.”

    Improving On and Increasing Access to Conservation Programs in the Next Farm Bill focuses on how programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) can continue their work supporting voluntary, locally-led conservation while ensuring equitable access for farmers. In addition to recommendations to provide sustainable conservation funding, increase technical assistance capacity, streamline program implementation, increase equitable access, and better track outcomes, this paper details an AFT priority in the Farm Bill to augment farmer-to-farmer education in conservation.

    Levy continued, “Ask any farmer where they get their information about adopting conservation practices on their farm or ranch and nine times out of ten they will say, ‘another farmer.’ In our focus on financial and technical assistance, we often overlook this critical piece. Farmers are innovators, and they trust other farmers to best answer the questions about what worked and what didn’t. Supporting more of those types of interactions among peers is key to ensuring successful long-term adoption of conservation practices, and improving farm viability and resilience in the face of a changing climate.”

    AFT also recommends Congress establish an Office of Small Farms at USDA to support lower-acreage producers, and the white paper includes other recommendations to continue increasing equitable access to USDA conservation programs.

    These white papers and recommendations were informed by 16 Farm Bill workshops AFT conducted in 2022 with farmers, service providers, and others across the U.S. These recommendations are part of a broader AFT Farm Bill policy agenda that includes critical policy recommendations to protect farmland and help current and aspiring producers run viable operations and access land. AFT also recently released its Smart Solar Farm Bill agenda to ensure a smart solar buildout that supports rural vitality as the U.S. transitions to renewable energy.

    American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.

  • Sam Smidt Named AFT’s New Director of Land Use and Protection Research

    American Farmland Trust has named Sam Smidt as National Director of Land Use and Protection Research to develop and implement the organization’s land use protection research agenda.

    Among his duties, Smidt will lead the Land Use and Protection Research Initiative, which includes and builds upon the existing Farms Under Threat projects. He will also be part of both AFT’s internal virtual research team that discusses and prioritizes overall research needs and AFT’s farmland protection unit which will work with Sam to help identify and prioritize research questions that could advance farmland protection and retention efforts and AFT’s policy and program development.

    “We could not be any more thrilled and grateful for someone with Sam’s impressive background to lead AFT’s efforts to advance farmland protection and retention,” said Beth Sauerhaft, AFT Vice President of Programs. “Sam is a natural leader, and his extensive agricultural background will prove invaluable in advancing AFT’s mission of promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land.”

    Smidt’s career in academia and agriculture has prepared him well for his new leadership role at AFT. As an Assistant Professor at The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Smidt was director of the Land and Water Lab which was widely regarded for its elite teaching and research related to sustainable agricultural and natural resources management. With an extensive agricultural background, Smidt is skilled at evaluating and modeling land transformation impacts on human and natural systems. He is active among private, non-profit, governmental, and intergovernmental organizations, and is currently funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation.

    Smidt is a native of Morton, Illinois, the pumpkin capital of the world, and he has graduate degrees in both earth and environmental science and policy from Michigan State University and The University of Iowa.

    “I cannot think of too many places where I’d want to progress from my academic career and apply what I have learned thus far than with AFT,” said Smidt. “Joining AFT is an ideal next step in my career to build upon the work I have done in agriculture and land protection and take it to new heights. I am excited about the chance to be creative, build upon existing work of projects such as Farms Under Threat, and shape the future of AFT’s protection research and policy.”

    American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.

  • Tractor Supply Celebrates 85th Anniversary With $850,000 Donation To American Farmland Trust

    Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, and the Tractor Supply Company Foundation announced an $850,000 donation to American Farmland Trust (AFT) in celebration of the company’s 85th anniversary.

    The donation will support AFT’s Brighter Future Fund, providing 85 grants of $10,000 each to help farmers improve farm viability; access, transfer or permanently protect farmland; and adopt regenerative agricultural practices. Applicants may include one or more individual farmer(s) or farm families. Grants will primarily be awarded to those who have been historically underserved or lack access to traditional methods of funding. Applications open on July 1.

    “Agricultural communities are the foundation of Tractor Supply’s 85 years in business, and we are delighted to give back to them as we celebrate this milestone,” said Hal Lawton, president and CEO of Tractor Supply. “This donation is an expression of gratitude to our customers and the communities we call home. It is also critical to fulfilling our duty as responsible stewards of the environment as America’s farmers play a key role in helping protect our natural resources. We’re honored to contribute to AFT’s important work, ensuring that future generations can live Life Out Here.”

    The $850,000 donation is Tractor Supply’s most significant gift to AFT to date. The company first partnered with AFT in 2020 through the Farmer Relief Fund at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tractor Supply also donated to AFT’s Brighter Future Fund in 2021 and 2022. Tractor Supply’s support of the Brighter Future Fund builds on initial underwriting from Tillamook County Creamery Association.

    “AFT is grateful for Tractor Supply’s generous gift and the significant impact these funds will have for awardees.  Our nation’s farmers and ranchers work hard and face daily obstacles related to weather, changing economic forces, and the rising costs of land and inputs. AFT just reached $5 million in grants awarded to farmers and ranchers to advance our mission to protect farmland, promote sound farming practices and keep farmers on the land,” said John Piotti, AFT president and CEO. “AFT’s grants help drive new solutions for resolving key challenges facing our society by increasing the resilience of farms to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening local food systems, creating greater equity in opportunities for underserved farmers, ensuring the availability of sufficient clean water and habitat for threatened wildlife, and improving farm viability and community vitality.”

    Since 2020, AFT has made grants to farmers and ranchers in 49 states and Puerto Rico.  Past Brighter Future Fund recipients include:

    • Rebecca Stimpert of Heartland Farm in Bucklin, Kansas, whose family raises cucumbers, summer squash, beets, beans, tomatoes and okra to make and sell 15 kinds of pickles. Those sales finance the Farm Service Agency loan used to purchase their farmland, which had been in her husband’s family for generations. Additional funding will help replace inefficient and outdated fertilization and irrigation systems and support the purchase of new farming equipment.
    • Haydee Borrero of Sheepy Hollow LLC in Ithaca, New York, who runs amixed-use farm as the sole full-time worker. Brighter Future Fund support allowed Haydee to purchase a handling system to conduct routine health checks and treatment protocols for her flock of American Romney sheep. These sheep can grow to be more than 220 pounds, making them unwieldy to manage. The handling system will help make the farm a safer workplace and a more efficient livestock producer.
    • Rafael Vencio of AmBoy Urban Collective LLC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who farms a quarter acre of land at Hilltop Urban Farm Incubator as part of a four-year tenure. He is working on growing Asian cultivars and heirloom varieties to introduce Filipino cuisine to the community. Rafael plans touse the funds for capital costs to maintain the soil and install drip irrigation and fencing. He will also use it toward transaction costs in securing the lease for the year.Agriculture is one of Tractor Supply’s four focus pillars of corporate giving, with an emphasis on supporting agriculture education for future generations through FFA and 4-H. The company also supports organizations and programs that focus on pets and companion animals; land and nature conservation; and community outreach including veterans causes and disaster relief. To learn more about Tractor Supply’s commitment to these areas, please visit TractorSupply.com/Community.

      About The Tractor Supply Company Foundation

      The Tractor Supply Company Foundation is committed to supporting vibrant rural communities for all by investing in the future of the Out Here Lifestyle through today’s youth and being a good neighbor in the communities Tractor Supply calls home. Founded in 2020, the Foundation’s priority areas include supporting agriculture education initiatives through longstanding partnerships with FFA and 4-H, caring for pets and animals and preserving land for future generations. The Foundation expands upon the charitable work of Tractor Supply Company, supporting causes that are important to customers and Team Members. In 2022, the Company donated over $15 million to charitable causes through direct giving, sponsorships, fundraisers and more. To learn more about The Tractor Supply Company Foundation, visit Corporate.TractorSupply.com/Community.

      About Tractor Supply Company

      Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO), the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, has been passionate about serving its unique niche, targeting the needs of recreational farmers, ranchers and all those who enjoy living the rural lifestyle, for 85 years. Tractor Supply offers an extensive mix of products necessary to care for home, land, pets and animals with a focus on product localization, exclusive brands and legendary customer service for the Out Here lifestyle. With more than 50,000 Team Members, the Company’s physical store assets, combined with its digital capabilities, offer customers the convenience of purchasing products they need anytime, anywhere and any way they choose at the everyday low prices they deserve. As of December 31, 2022, the Company operated 2,066 Tractor Supply stores in 49 states, a consumer mobile app and an e-commerce website at www.TractorSupply.com. In October 2022, Tractor Supply acquired 81 stores from Orscheln Farm and Home that will be rebranded to Tractor Supply by the end of 2023.

      About American Farmland Trust

      American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families. Learn more about AFT’s grantmaking and ways you can support at  farmland.org/grantmaking.

  • American Farmland Trust Elevates New Leaders to Promote Farm Viability

    American Farmland Trust announced new leaders who will drive forward efforts to support the ability of farmers and ranchers to earn a living from the land and achieve their business, personal, and family goals in agriculture. This effort will bring together experts from across AFT to initially broaden direct-to-farmer grant programs, expand business technical assistance, and advance Smart SolarSM. 

    “Farmers and ranchers need to make a living in order to feed Americans and provide many other benefits to society,” said David Haight, AFT Vice President for Programs. Challenges from severe weather, market changes and disruptions, and other factors make this dramatically more difficult – particularly for small and mid-sized as well as underserved producers. AFT has worked to strengthen the viability of farms and ranches since our founding in 1980.  New leadership will galvanize support from across AFT to enable us to do even more in years to come.”

    Nathan L’Etoile

    Nathan L’Etoile, former AFT New England Regional Director has been appointed National Farm Viability Managing Director and will lead efforts to elevate farm viability across AFT’s programming, specifically AFT’s direct grant making to farmers, business technical assistance work and solar programming.  

    “Agriculture is an exciting and dynamic industry, but it is so much more than that.  It brings us all together, in the fields, in our homes, and in our communities,” said L’Etoile. “Building on AFT’s 40 years of work with farmers, ranchers and partner organizations, I am eager to get to continue those partnerships and build new ones as we secure a viable future for America’s farmers and ranchers.”

    Ethan Winter

    Ethan Winter, former Northeast Solar Specialist, becomes AFT National Smart Solar Director where he will set and implement AFT’s strategy for solar energy generation and farmland conservation.
    “Solar is an essential strategy for preventing run-away climate change and it can also offer valuable economic opportunities for farmers,” said Winter. “Working with innovators in energy, agriculture, policy, and applied research, and most importantly with America’s farming community, AFT is elevating Smart Solar as a national priority. We need renewable energy and productive, resilient farms, and I am excited to be advancing this effort.”  

    So much important work is already underway. 

    With support from Tillamook, Tractor Supply and others, AFT has awarded nearly $5M in grants to help farmers launch, grow, and sustain farmers and ranchers in the face of forces impacting the food and agricultural system, including the COVID-19 pandemic, changing markets, severe weather, and climate change.  

    AFT has also worked to expand farmer and rancher access to experts that can help them achieve business and personal goals.  AFT and partners have urged the Biden Administration and Congress to allocate funding for such support, often called business technical assistance, including a coalition letter signed by more than 140 organizations urging funding in the next Farm Bill.  AFT, Black Family Land Trust and The Carrot Project were awarded a $3 million grant from USDA NIFA to support 20 organizations providing business technical assistance to underserved producers and assist with the National Farm Viability Conference.

    In 2022, AFT’s released Smart SolarSM guiding principles to advance solar energy implementation to fight climate change while protect farmland. Progressive solar developers are now working with AFT on-site selection and to implement dual-use or agrivoltaics and community solar installations that provide income to farmers without disrupting the farming operation.  

    Every part of AFT’s mission to save the land that sustains us by protecting farmland, implementing sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land cannot succeed without solving for farm viability. 

    A blog series launched today will detail how projects across AFT serve the viability of farms and ranches and ensure the ability of the next generation to feed, fuel, and clothe America.

    Experts interested in joining AFT can go to AFT Careers to apply.

    American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.

  • Biochar Promise for Ag Can Be Realized When Gov’t Agencies, Research Institutions, NGOs and Industry Come Together

    American Farmland Trust, the National Center for Appropriate Technology and the U.S. Biochar Initiative today released Recommendations to Scale Up Sustainable Biochar Research and Commercialization for Agriculture and Conservation, which outlines actions to facilitate the development of a sustainable industry to supply biochar as a crop and grazing land amendment for farmers. Investment in research, production capacity, market mechanisms, outreach, and education will facilitate the broader application of biochar on farms and secure benefits for agriculture along with the delivery of renewable energy as a coproduct.

    In March 2022, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), NCAT and AFT hosted a two-day virtual event on biochar research and commercialization. Discussions reflected broad agreement that building a pyrolysis biochar and bioenergy industry is a promising near-term strategy for carbon removal. Sustainable fit-for-purpose biochar integrated in soil health management systems has potential to address climate change, build productivity and resilience of farms and forests, and create jobs and opportunity across rural America. Chuck Hassebrook, Director of NCAT’s Biochar Policy Project said, “There is great opportunity to build a biochar and biofuel industry that enhances soil health, sequesters carbon, improves farm and forest income, and creates jobs and opportunity across rural America. But federal investment in research and development is needed to unlock that opportunity.”

    Building a sustainable pyrolysis biochar bioenergy industry will require a coordinated, multi-faceted strategy. Supportive public policy is needed to prompt investment in production capacity and market development. Convening participants stressed that commercially relevant results are needed during the next five years. Rachel Seman-Varner, Senior Scientist at AFT said, “Current barriers limit the widespread production and use of biochar, and therefore the realization of the full potential climate adaptation and mitigation benefits of the practice. Key barriers can be addressed with a cross-agency, multi-stakeholder approach outlined with these recommendations.”

    This white paper presents four core policy recommendations derived from the convening.  

    • Coordinated Biochar Research Initiative – A coordinated research approach is recommended that includes cross-site and site-specific research to understand the interactions between various biochars, soils, crops, management, and weather as proposed in the Biochar Research Network Act introduced recently in Congress.
    • Biochar Outreach, Extension and Education – In order to scale up biochar use, gaps in knowledge need to be filled by outreach, extension and education organizations to support farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange, on-farm demonstration trials, development of decision support tools, public-private partnerships to support biochar adoption, and knowledge transfer. 
    • Support of Commercialization of Biochar & Development of a Sustainable Biochar & Biofuel Industry – Developing a sustainable biochar biofuel industry will require strategic incentives and investments – we cannot wait for production and markets to align. 
    • Cross Agency Action Plan – This white paper outlines detailed recommendations for cross agency actions among USDA, DOE, EPA, and other agencies to address policy barriers to biochar adoption.  

    Tom Miles, Executive Director of US Biochar Initiative said, “Biochars and biochar-amended products are being used productively in agriculture today. Improved outreach, government incentives, and long-term research are needed to stimulate investment, scale production, and validate long-term agronomic and environmental benefits.”

    We cannot wait 50 years to realize the potential of biochar. We present these policy recommendations to meet that challenge.

    To view the recorded convening and summary paper along with additional biochar resources, visit the convening webpage on AFT’s Farmland Information Center.

  • Over 135 Organizations Call for Farm and Food Business Technical Assistance

    American Farmland Trust (AFT), the Agricultural Viability Alliance, and a national coalition of agricultural organizations, service providers, non-profits, businesses, lending institutions, and government entities, today sent a letter to leadership of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees calling for dedicated funding for business technical assistance and farm viability in the upcoming Farm Bill.

    “As you begin the process of developing a new Farm Bill,” the letter, signed by over 135 organizations, writes, “[we] urge you to include dedicated funding for one-to-one business technical assistance for small and midsized farm and food businesses. These investments in farm viability are critical to achieving a more just, secure, resilient food supply chain, growing our rural economies, and helping farmers and food businesses weather periods of uncertainty, high input costs, and market disruptions.”

    “Congress begins work on a new Farm Bill at a time when the agricultural economy and food system face a number of urgent, overlapping challenges,” said Tim Fink, Policy Director for AFT. “From historic inequities and systemic barriers for underserved producers, to rising input costs and vanishing margins, to generational transfer of farmland – business technical assistance has proven an effective and cost-efficient way of addressing these challenges and building capacity on the ground.”

    The call for dedicated Farm Bill funding builds on work that AFT, in partnership with the Agricultural Viability Alliance (the Alliance), began in 2021 requesting USDA to set aside a portion of Coronavirus relief funding for one-to-one business technical assistance. More than 110 organizations joined AFT and the Alliance in urging USDA to prioritize this type of technical assistance to small and mid-sized farm and food businesses. In addition, 50 Members of Congress similarly encouraged USDA to support business technical assistance. USDA responded to this request with its establishment of two new initiatives: the Farm Service Agency’s Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program, and the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Regional Food Business Centers.

    “The entrepreneurs we serve face barriers to becoming financially viable, so we support them to develop financial management skills, access capital and land, and build resilient businesses,” said Benneth Phelps, Executive Director of the Agricultural Viability Alliance. “We do this by providing information, training, skill-building, and capital, within a carefully crafted ecosystem of support, and funding for this work in the Farm Bill is critical.”

    Business technical assistance covers a wide range of one-to-one services offered to farm and food businesses by nonprofit organizations, state agencies, private consultants, and extension services. Customized to meet the unique needs of individual businesses, these services include coaching, skill development, and planning related to financial and labor management, marketing and business strategies, farm transfer and succession, and access to land and capital. BTA has proven effective at creating jobs and supporting local economies. This work is also critical to addressing historic and systemic barriers facing farmers and food entrepreneurs of color, who have been structurally denied opportunities to access capital, land, technical support, USDA programs, and broader professional advancement for generations.

    American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on a half million additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families.

    The Agricultural Viability Alliance connects farm, food and forestry viability advisors in New England and the Hudson Valley. These advisors work with farmers to build resilient businesses, access markets and farmland, execute business transitions, and achieve other goals. Regionally, we offer a community for advisors to access professional development and mentorship, so they can do their best work. Nationally, the Alliance brings advisors together to advance policy that ensures consistent funding for business assistance — so the groundbreaking work our network members have spearheaded for decades will be built into the sector long-term. The Alliance is hosted by The Carrot Project, a business technical assistance provider based in New England. Together, we work toward a just and resilient farm and food system, guided by our shared commitment to racial equity and an inclusive sector.

  • California Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Nominees

    Are you a California farmer, rancher, or forestland owner who improves soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on your working land? Apply for the 2023 California Leopold Conservation Award®.

    Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 25 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In California the $10,000 award is presented with state partners: Sustainable Conservation and California Farm Bureau Federation.

    Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

    Nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders. The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.

    The application deadline date is July 18, 2023. Email applications to award@sandcountyfoundation.org.

    “As we deal with the intense fallout of the state’s recent storms, and the toll on our communities, our collective conservation ethic must guide how we build a climate-resilient future for our state,” said Ashley Boren, Sustainable Conservation CEO, which has co-sponsored the award since its California launch more than a decade ago. “California landowners are on the front lines of environmental stewardship. The Leopold Conservation Award celebrates these inspiring individuals and families, and we hope farmers, ranchers and other private landowners come forward this year to be recognized.”

    “The Leopold Conservation Award provides outstanding recognition of farmers and ranchers who take steps every day to realize significant gains in managing their farms in a sustainable and profitable manner,” said Jamie Johansson, California Farm Bureau Federation President. “The awarded families are great examples of the generational appreciation farmers and ranchers have for their land. The stewardship they employ at their farms and ranches is reflective of California farmers’ and ranchers’ commitment to the environment.”

    “As a national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of farmers, ranchers and forestland owners,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that conservation in agriculture requires a focus on the land, the practices and the people and this award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

    “Recipients of this award are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today. Their dedication to conservation shows how individuals can improve the health of the land while producing food and fiber,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO.

    The Leopold Conservation Award in California is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Sustainable Conservation, California Farm Bureau Federation, Sand County Foundation, The Harvey L. & Maud C. Sorensen Foundation, Farm Credit, The Nature Conservancy in California, McDonald’s, and California LCA recipient alumni.

    The Leopold Conservation Award will be presented at the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting in December. The first California Leopold Conservation Award recipient was selected in 2006. Beretta Family Dairy of Santa Rosa received the award in 2022.

    For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.

    THE LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD PROGRAM

    The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. Sand County Foundation presents the award in California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont). www.leopoldconservationaward.org

    AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST

    American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through its No Farms, No Food message. Since its founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families. www.farmland.org

    CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

    The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 31,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of nearly 6 million Farm Bureau members. www.cfbf.com

    SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION 

    Sand County Foundation inspires and empowers a growing number of private landowners to ethically manage natural resources in their care, so future generations have clean and abundant water, healthy soil to support agriculture and forestry, plentiful habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation. www.sandcountyfoundation.org

    SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION

    Sustainable Conservation helps California thrive by uniting people to solve the toughest challenges facing California’s land, air and water. Since 1993, it has brought together business, landowners and government to steward the resources that we all depend on in ways that make economic sense. Sustainable Conservation believes common ground is California’s most important resource. www.suscon.org

  • Ag Conservation Easement Programs Permanently Protect Over 3.4 Million Acres

    American Farmland Trust‘s Farmland Information Center recently released results from its annual survey of state Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) programs. Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement programs use public funds to compensate property owners for keeping their land available for agriculture. The findings from the 2022 survey are summarized in “Status of State Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs.

    As of the start of this calendar year, PACE programs in 30 states have invested more than $5 billion in state funds to acquire nearly 18,500 easements and permanently protect more than 3.4 million acres. Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Massachusetts lead the nation in easements acquired while Colorado, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and California stood out for acres protected to date (see maps). Key partners, including local governments, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and other federal agencies, foundations, and landowners, have spent an additional $3 billion to complete these projects.

    Annual Trends Show Increased Pace of Protection, Lower Acquisition Costs, and Uptick in Local Match

    In 2021, programs reported acquiring 589 easements on approximately 106,700 acres, spending over $183.7 million in state funds and leveraging more than $118 million from other sources to do deals. For the single year, program activity in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, and New Jersey topped the list for easements acquired. California, Pennsylvania, New York, Colorado, and Maryland lead for acres protected (see tables).

    While annual state spending was down 3%, total funds invested in easement acquisitions grew 8% from 2020 levels. This reflects a nearly 31% rise in funding from non-state sources, as reported by program managers. Local government contributions represented the most significant share of non-state funding, up 70%. The value of landowner donations also more than doubled, while the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easement component (ACEP-ALE) kicked in an additional 18% of the non-state dollars. ACEP-ALE is a voluntary federal conservation program implemented by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that protects agricultural land from conversion to non-agricultural uses. ACEP-ALE provides matching funds to eligible entities to acquire conservation easements on farmland and ranch land.

    The number of easements acquired in 2021 decreased from 2020, but the total acreage protected increased by more than 12% year-over-year. Notably, the average easement size increased 28% from 141 acres per easement in 2020 to 181 acres per easement in 2021—also an increase from both the 2018 and 2019 average easement sizes.

    Average cost for acquisition, meanwhile, was at its lowest point in four years. Based on total funds spent, the average cost to protect an acre of farmland or ranchland dropped 3% from $2,926 per acre in 2020 to $2,833 in 2021.

    AFT’s Farmland Information Center has been conducting its annual survey of State PACE programs since 1995. The 2022 State PACE Program Survey collects information about transactions completed in calendar year 2021 and summarizes cumulative data through January 2022. Other nationwide surveys conducted by the Farmland Information Center include a survey of local PACE programs, and of land trusts that protect agricultural land. The data collected through these surveys help AFT track the progress of on-the-ground programs working to save our nation’s farmland.

    For more information on Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements, visit AFT’s Farmland Information Center website. The FIC is a clearinghouse for information about farmland protection and stewardship and is a public/private partnership between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and American Farmland Trust.

    American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 7 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on a half million additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.

  • Fresno-Area Women in Ag to Receive Support, Learning Circle & Resource Fair Nov. 2

    Fresno-area farmers face water management and business viability challenges like never before, but financial and technical resources are available to help growers and landowners navigate these challenges. American Farmland Trust is partnering with the Sierra Resource Conservation District and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to gather women in agriculture around these issues and feature services they can lean on at a Women for the Land Learning Circle and Resource Fair on Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m in Fresno.

    At this women-centered gathering, growers, landowners and others involved in agriculture will be able to share experiences, while agricultural resource providers will describe local services that support the viability of agriculture and agricultural communities. The event has been co-designed with input from a broad range of partners in the region to reach a diversity of communities engaged in Fresno agriculture, according to Caitlin Joseph, AFT’s Women for the Land Program and Policy Manager. As such, multilingual resources will be provided in English, Spanish, Hmong and Punjabi, as needed.

    “AFT is excited to bolster the work of local RCDs, NRCS staff and others, by partnering on this free event for women producers and landowners, applying a peer-to-peer learning model we have utilized nationally to great effect,” says Joseph. “In addition to a farm tour led by Lilian Yang, one of the region’s innovative Hmong women farmers, there will be discussions on how the drought is impacting water and land use in the San Joaquin Valley, and what is still needed to support farm viability throughout these changes. Through our Women for the Land Initiative, we have found that learning in this type of environment can really drive women farmers to take action to support their operations.”

    “Sierra RCD is thrilled to offer this space for women farmers to build relationships with service providers who can help them access financial and technical resources,” says Karin Roux, District Development Manager at Sierra Resource Conservation District. “We are particularly interested in the powerful ways that AFT’s peer-to-peer learning will help women hear directly from each other on the unique challenges and successes they are experiencing farming here in the Central Valley, and receive first–hand accounts of technical and financial assistance opportunities available to improve their farms’ water efficiency and resilience.”

    Where:

    Start at Sierra RCD Office (10637 N. Lanes Road, Fresno, CA 93730), take bus to farm visit and return to office where lunch will be provided
     
    When:  Nov. 2, 2022; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
     
    Organizers
    Caitlin Joseph, Women for the Land Program and Policy Manager, AFT
    Anel Trujillo, California Outreach Specialist, AFT
    Vicky Espinoza, AFT and The Nature Conservancy (discussion leader)
    Alyssa Flores, Water Use, Soil Health, and Conservation Planning Support Assistant, SRCD
    Karin Roux, District Development, SRCD
    Veronica Martinez, Community Engagement Youth and Education Program Manager, SRCD
     
    For multilingual assistance, contact:
    Karin Roux (English) – (845) 527-6590
    Anel Trujillo (Español) (559) 385-1517
    Deep Singh (Pajābī) (559) 909-9962
    Vila Xiong (Hmong) (559) 402-0067 ext 108

    American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advancing environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.

    USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) mission is “Helping People Help the Land.” NRCS helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners conserve the nation’s soil, water, air and other natural resources. All programs are voluntary and offer science-based solutions that benefit both the landowner and the environment.

    The Sierra Resource Conservation District (Sierra RCD) is a non-regulatory, non-taxing, nonprofit, Special District of the State of California; the mission and function of the Sierra RCD is to take available technical, financial, and educational resources, whatever their source, and focus or coordinate them at the local level, to meet the present and future natural resource needs of the local land user. Offices are in Auberry and Fresno, CA. More information can be found at www.sierrarcd.com

    Sierra RCD service area covers the eastern half of Fresno County and has two main programs in operation that interact with local land users and landowners: the Forestry and Watershed Program which predominantly focuses within the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Agriculture and Rangeland Program which focuses within the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Central Valley floor.