June 4th, 2019
By Lori Sallet
Watch How AFT Helps Beginning Farmers Find Land in the New Documentary “Generation Farmer”
At American Farmland Trust, we know it can be a rough road for beginning farmers seeking to start careers in agriculture. From accessing land and capital to deciding what crops to grow, there are a lot of challenges and decisions for new farmers to make.
A new BBC World News documentary tackles this issue head-on and highlights some of the progress AFT has made with young farmers in New York’s Hudson Valley.
In an eight-part documentary series called “Follow the Food,” BBC World News aims to address some of the biggest questions raised in relation to an ever-increasing population and meet some of the leading minds who are working on innovative solutions to feed the planet.
Episode three is titled “Generation Farmer” and covers the challenges facing new farmers around the world and the initiatives that provide them a helping hand — “future proofing farming and food production”.
“Generation Farmer” features AFT President and CEO John Piotti and his vision for the next generation of farmers, AFT’s work on land transition — helping young farmers access land and senior farmers retire — and farmers Josh Rockwood and Sandy Gordon who connected through the Hudson Valley Farmlink, the program AFT created in New York to support transitioning land to the next generation of farmers and ranchers.
“Follow the Food: Generation Farmer” premieres live on Friday, June 14 at 10:30pm ET/7:30PM PT on BBC World News. Can’t wait? Stream the episode now on BBC Reel.