American Farmland Trust

We appreciate being included in Food Tank’s list: “125 Food and Agriculture Organizations to Watch in 2025!”

Find us at booth number 1317 at Commodity Classic in Denver! Swing by to meet our staff and get to know the programs we're offering to producers across the country. Don’t forget to grab your No Farms No Food® sticker. Comment below if you’ll be there! #CommodityClassic #Classic25

I got to experience some chilly winter weather attending the 2025 The National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City last week. A special highlight was presenting "The Economic Case for Soil Health: Engaging Producers with Scientific Evidence & Real-World Case Studies" alongside my colleague, Jennifer Tillman! Our talk focused on soil health outreach materials (Case Studies and Farmers' Guides, see links below) that conservation districts can use to engage crop and livestock producers. These resources can facilitate detailed discussions with producers about the economic costs and benefits of adopting soil health practices – both positive and negative. If you were also at the NACD Annual Meeting, or are interested in discussing soil health economics or the mentioned materials, feel free to send me a message – I'd love to connect! 🌱 Check out the Soil Health Economic Case Studies here: https://lnkd.in/e7uvwYTY 🌱 Check out the Farmers' Guides to Soil Health here: https://lnkd.in/e3n59fvv #NACD2025 #Conservation #SoilHealth

Congrats to Scotty & Jo Herriman, recipients of the Oklahoma Leopold #Conservation Award. These innovative #farmers are showing how to improve environmental and economic outcomes with #covercrops, no-till management, & prescribed burning. This $10,000 recognition is made possible with support from American Farmland Trust, ITC Great Plains, LLC, Noble Research Institute, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, Jimmy Emmons family, & McDonald's.

We're grateful to Brownfield Ag News for sharing the story below, highlighting the good work of one of our Land Transfer Navigator partners in Michigan. Helping people "navigate" farm transfers is critical for protecting farmland, strengthening rural economies, and supporting both retiring and aspiring farmers and ranchers. ... From the story: "A land transfer navigator says having a succession plan in place is key to reducing farmland loss. Becky Huttenga, Economic Development Coordinator for Ottawa County, Michigan tells Brownfield, 'That’s one of the best tools we can use to protect farmland. ... [The land] is never more threatened than when it changes hands; that’s when it has the highest threat for conversion to another use.' " 🎙️ Listen to the interview with Becky: https://bit.ly/4iakYry. ℹ️ Learn about our Land Transfer Navigators program: https://bit.ly/4b3UnII.

New England’s farmers face many complex and compounding threats: some of the most expensive farmland in the country, intense pressure to develop farmland, and unpredictable weather. With a staff of farmers, scientists, and advocates, American Farmland Trust’s New England Regional Program responds to these challenges by offering resources, programs, and advocacy to keep farmers on the land, promote sound farming practices, and protect farmland across Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Below, check out a recap of our New England Team's impacts in 2024 and read more here: https://bit.ly/4k91d5h.

Are you a farmer who applies biochar or are interested in applying it? American Farmland Trust is conducting the first-ever national biochar survey to better understand who is applying biochar and why and where in the U.S., as well as challenges and successes.    Survey responses will inform our work to provide a blueprint for supporting greater adoption of #biochar use among farmers.    ➡️➡️ Take the survey: https://bit.ly/3DHLpGd and please share! ↩️ US Biochar Initiative Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources     This work is part of our Biochar National On-Farm Demonstration Trial: Breaking Down Barriers to Biochar Adoption on Farms Coast-to-Coast, funded by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Last week, Brooks Lamb, American Farmland Trust’s Land Protection and Access Specialist spoke at the Pick Tennessee Conference, one of the state's largest annual convenings of farmers, service providers, and agriculture leaders. He co-presented with our friends at Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council. Their session focused on the importance of farm transition planning. Brooks shared strategies for starting farm transfer conversations, described tools that can help families in these processes, and highlighted stories from the field to inform and inspire. A big thanks to Farmer Veteran Coalition of Tennessee for inviting us!

American Farmland Trust’s Erica Goodman, Farms for a New Generation Director, speaks with RFD-TV on farmland transition over the coming decade. As aging farmers face uncertainty over the future of their land, the program provides support for navigating unique situations. 🎥 Watch her interview on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4hYez2k.