American Farmland Trust Applauds NRCS Chief Buckley’s Priorities to Protect Working Lands
Washington, D.C. — American Farmland Trust (AFT) today welcomed the announcement of Chief Buckley’s priorities for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), highlighting their strong alignment with AFT’s mission to protect agricultural land and support the nation’s farmers and ranchers.
At a time when the United States continues to lose land to development—including more than 2,000 acres of farmland every single day—AFT emphasized the urgency of coordinated action to preserve working lands.
“Chief Buckley’s focus on keeping working lands in working hands has been core to American Farmland Trust’s mission since our founding,” said AFT Vice President of Policy Tim Fink. “Protecting farmland is essential not only for our food system, but for the resilience of rural communities and the health of our natural resources.”
Chief Buckley underscored this commitment, stating, “I’m laser-focused with the Secretary of Agriculture on building out strategies and plans to support American producers in keeping working land in working hands.”
NRCS also introduced a renewed mission, vision, and motto that reinforce its commitment to conservation and agricultural productivity:
Motto: Keeping Working Lands in Working Hands
Mission Statement: We deliver practical, voluntary, and locally led conservation solutions that help producers conserve natural resources, strengthen agricultural production, and keep working lands productive for generations to come.
Vision Statement: An America where working lands remain productive, resilient, and in the hands of those who steward them.
In addition, NRCS is updating its strategic priorities to guide operations, program delivery, stakeholder engagement, and modernization efforts through fiscal year 2026 and beyond. The agency’s seven priorities include:
Preserving and protecting agricultural land
Advancing outcome-based conservation and farmer empowerment
Strengthening field engagement and technical expertise
Expanding wildlife conservation and outdoor access
Enhancing partnerships through streamlined processes and accountability
Optimizing mission delivery through workforce development
Modernizing infrastructure and technology
“These priorities represent a critical step forward in ensuring that farmers and ranchers have the tools and support they need to sustain productive, profitable, and resilient operations,” added Fink. “We look forward to continued collaboration with NRCS to advance policies and programs that safeguard America’s farmland for future generations of farmers and ranchers.”
