American Farmland Trust Supports Healthy Soils and Farm Vitality with Nearly $1 Million Awarded to Virginia Farmers and Ranchers
Washington, DC -- American Farmland Trust (AFT) recently awarded $896,600 to farmers and ranchers looking to improve soil health and long-term farm viability. The funds, distributed through two new grants launched in October 2024, will support 38 producers in Virginia.
Both grants are part of AFT’s Brighter Future Fund, which was established in 2020 to help farmers navigate challenges ranging from market volatility to climate impacts, while also bolstering equity and opportunities for all in agriculture.
The grant funds, which represent one third of the total $2.8 million in grants awarded nationwide, are part of AFT’s Regenerate Virginia initiative, a statewide effort made possible by generous and visionary anonymous supporters.
Regenerate Virginia simultaneously advances regenerative practices, protects farmland, and strengthens the Commonwealth’s agricultural communities. Input reductions through practices like diversified cover crops, biochar, and rotational grazing are among the outcomes expected from the funded projects. Producers are also looking to expand market opportunities with GAP certification and improve soil health with equipment purchases that maximize soil cover and biodiversity.
In partnership with the Virginia Soil Health Coalition, AFT modeled the new Healthy Soils Grant after a similar innovative program offered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Awards incentivize the creation of soil building systems while encouraging innovation by supporting ideas and expenses that are ineligible for other programs.
“Nearly 150 producers from across the Commonwealth applied for these grants,” said Amanda Cather, Mid-Atlantic Deputy Director. “We had so many amazing proposals from farmers and ranchers representing the tremendous diversity and creativity of Virginia agriculture. We can’t wait to see the impact this funding will have on their operations and communities.”
The Farm Vitality Planning Grant focuses on the long-term viability of producers’ operations by funding business planning, strategic expansion, farm succession, enterprise diversification, financial and labor management, and land acquisition costs, among others. For producers planning the future of a regenerative farm, these awards allow farmers and ranchers to pursue individualized, substantive business consulting and planning services, leading to powerful changes in operations.
On receiving word of an award, Nita Mensia of Winfield Farms said, "I am so grateful for the confidence placed in our farm. You cannot imagine how much of an impact this is going to have. With this investment, I can begin farming full time, finish up site work and fully engage in the Farm to School Program which is really taking off faster than I had expected. This is such a blessing."
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American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms No Food® message. Since its founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farming and ranching families.
