American Farmland Trust

AFT SAVES THE LAND THAT SUSTAINS US, PROMOTES SOUND FARM PRACTICES, AND KEEPS FARMERS ON THE LAND.

STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS -WE'VE PROGRAMS IN THE FOLLOWING REGIONS: CALIFORNIA, MIDWEST, NEW YORK, NEW ENGLAND, MID-ATLANTIC, PACIFIC NORTHWEST, SOUTHEAST, AND TEXAS; AND OUR NATIONAL INITIATIVES ARE: AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION INNOVATIONS, CLIMATE INITIATIVE, FARMLAND INFORMATION CENTER, FARM LEGACY, FARM VIABILITY, FARMS FOR A NEW GENERATION, FEDERAL POLICY, LAND PROTECTION, NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LAND NETWORK, WATER INITIATIVE, AND WOMEN FOR THE LAND.

IN 2023, AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST: OPENED A NEW TEXAS OFFICE TO ADDRESS FARMLAND AND RANCHLAND LOSS AND ADVOCATED FOR A $1 BILLION FUND TO SUPPORT TEXAS LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION. GREW OUR NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LAND NETWORK TO 1,168 ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL 50 STATES TO ELEVATE AGRICULTURAL LAND PROTECTION AROUND THE COUNTRY. CREATED A NEW LAND TRANSFER NAVIGATORS PROGRAM TO GUIDE RETIRING FARMERS WHILE HELPING NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS. WORKED WITH PARTNERS IN CALIFORNIA TO SUPPORT MORE THAN 250 UNDERSERVED SPECIALTY CROP FARMERS WITH MULTILINGUAL TRAININGS AND EVENTS. RELEASED SMART SOLAR PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION THAT HELPS TO MEET CLIMATE CHANGE GOALS WHILE NOT JEOPARDIZING PRODUCTIVE FARMLAND. LAUNCHED A GROWING EQUITY PARTNERSHIP WITH BLACK FAMILY LAND TRUST AND OTHER GROUPS TO PROVIDE BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO UNDERSERVED FARMERS AND RANCHERS. AWARDED OVER $1 MILLION TO 110 FARMERS IN 48 STATES, PUERTO RICO, AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS THROUGH OUR BRIGHTER FUTURE FUND THAT SUPPORTS SMALL FARM INNOVATION. SUPPORTED WOMEN FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL LANDOWNERS THROUGH LEARNING CIRCLES IN 19 STATES HOSTED BY OUR WOMEN FOR THE LAND PROGRAM. RELEASED "FARMS UNDER THREAT 2040: PROJECTED CLIMATE IMPACTS," A REPORT DEMONSTRATING HOW DECISIONS MADE TODAY AFFECT OUR FUTURE ABILITY TO GROW FOOD. COLLABORATED IN CALIFORNIA ON THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY LAND AND WATER STRATEGY TO HELP HUNDREDS OF FARMERS ADOPT PRACTICES THAT CONSERVE WATER, BUILD SOIL HEALTH, AND DELIVER CLIMATE BENEFITS. ADVOCATED IN MASSACHUSETTS FOR OVER $21 MILLION TO SUPPORT HEALTHY SOIL PRACTICES AND FOR FARMERS FACING CLIMATE-RELATED DISASTERS WHILE SECURING FUNDING IN MAINE FOR TWO CRITICAL PROGRAMS THAT HELP FARMERS BUILD HEALTHY SOILS. RELEASED A SERIES OF GUIDES TO HELP FARMERS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND SAVINGS FROM ADOPTING SOIL HEALTH PRACTICES. ENROLLED NEARLY 300 ILLINOIS FARMERS IN OUR RE:GENERATIONS PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS CONTRACTS TO FARMERS WHO ADOPT COVER CROPS AND COLLECT DATA ON CLIMATE BENEFITS. CELEBRATED A MILESTONE OF 100,000 ACRES OF PROTECTED FARMLAND IN NEW YORK WITH PARTNERS WHILE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATING FOR $4.2 BILLION IN STATE ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND CONSERVATION FUNDING. HELD REGIONAL WORKSHOPS WITH FARMERS AROUND THE U.S. TO HEAR FROM FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND OTHERS ON THE POLICIES MOST NEEDED IN THE NEXT FARM BILL.

PUBLIC EDUCATION -ADVOCATE - AFT FIGHTS FOR PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT SAVE FARMLAND, SUPPORT FARMERS AND ENHANCE OUR ENVIRONMENT.EDUCATE - AFT EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT OUR NATION'S FARMS, FARMLAND AND FARMERS.INNOVATE - AFT PIONEERS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNIQUES THAT PROTECT FARMLAND AND PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES.INVESTIGATE - AFT CONDUCTS RESPECTED RESEARCH AS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR PROGRAMS.COLLABORATE - AFT BUILDS COALITIONS TO ACHIEVE LARGE-SCALE SOLUTIONS AND LASTING CHANGE.

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA OUTREACH -AFT CONTINUOUSLY ENGAGES THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR MEMBERS, DONORS, VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA OUTREACH.