New England Policy - American Farmland Trust

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New England Policy

Welcome to the New England Policy homepage!  

Our regional advocacy efforts seek to create systemic change and ensure that producers across New England have the resources they need to prosper. To accommodate the rich agricultural diversity of the region, AFT New England brings together advocates, farmers, organizations, and public officials to advance state and federal farmland and conservation policies. 

Our policy staff is committed to working closely with state legislators, farmers, service providers, communities, and members of Congress to advance policy solutions that will meet the needs of our farmers and farmland, now and into the future. Together, we strive to enact policies that support farmers and to create resource pools for climate resilient agriculture strategies, farmland protection and access, and farm viability, among others.

New England's Policy Priorities

New England Policy Platform

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The New England Policy Team developed AFT New England’s 2025-26 Policy Platform to set clear priorities for upcoming state legislative sessions. The Platform was informed by a broad range of input, including AFT research, policy analysis in the region, surveys of AFT staff and external partners, and interviews with AFT New England staff. 

For relevant research, please see  Farms Under Threat: A New England Perspective, Farms Under Threat 2040: Choosing an Abundant Future, Farms Under Threat: the State of the State, AFT’s Annual State of the State Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements Survey, and the 2023 Recommendations for State and Local Governments to Advance Smart SolarSM report. AFT’s other policy–related research can be found on the Farmland Information Center.  

New England Policy Platform

Strengthen the Economic Viability of Farms

Increase Farmland Access Opportunities for Farmers

Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture and Improve Climate Disaster Relief Efforts

Protect Agricultural Land from Development and Conversion

Increase Support for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Farmers

Promote Smart Solar While Protecting Farmland

Support Farmers Impacted by PFAS Contamination

2024 New England Policy Wrap Up

The AFT New England Policy Team spent the 2024 Legislative Session focusing on educating legislators about the importance of protecting farmland, implementing climate-smart agricultural practices, and keeping farmers viable to help ensure success during the 2025 session, when states will welcome new legislatures to pass policies.

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Working Lands Alliance

WLA is a broad-based, statewide coalition working together to preserve Connecticut’s most precious resource, its farmland. Since 1999, WLA has been the statewide voice for farmland preservation efforts, ensuring that we protect the farmland that is the cornerstone of our communities and our quality of life.

Working Lands Alliance

Policy Partners

Meet the New England Policy Team