From Family Roots to Farmer Networks: Growing Soil Health in Illinois

Since starting with American Farmland Trust in June, I have worked with farmers across the state of Illinois through our Farmer-Led Advances in Soil Health (FLASH) program. Attending the FLASH group meetings, I’ve met many passionate conservationists dedicated to protecting farmland for future generations, a sentiment very personal and important to me. I grew up in Ramsey, a small town in south-central Illinois. My family has been farming in the area since around the 1850s; my great-grandmother grew up on the same farm as I did. My dad still farms the land, maintaining an operation of corn, soybeans, and beef cattle.

Five Years, One Farmer-Led Cohort: What Vermont Dairy Farmers Learned by Working Together

Over five years, seven Vermont dairy farmers built a tight-knit farmer-led learning cohort that became a practical space to compare approaches, troubleshoot challenges, and try new grazing and business-planning ideas.

Cultivating Wins for California’s Agricultural Lands and Farmers: American Farmland Trust’s 2025 Policy Report

During the first year of the 2025–2026 California State Legislature, AFT led coalitions to advance California agriculture policy that strengthens climate resilience, expands land access, protects farmland, and secures major investments through Cap-and-Invest, the SALC program, and Proposition 4 climate-smart agriculture funding.

Adapting to Meet the Needs of America’s Farmers and Ranchers

As agriculture evolves, American Farmland Trust is scaling its programs, research, and regional teams to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers across the country. Learn how AFT’s new leadership structure and expanded national initiatives are driving innovation, resilience, and farmland protection.

Growing Fertilizer in the Heart of Virginia: One Farmer's Story of Resilience

Virginia farmer Bob Waring is redefining agriculture by “growing fertilizer” through regenerative practices that boost soil health, resilience, and profits.

Getting Our Hands in the Dirt: Celebrating Five Years of Soil Health Stewards

Five years ago, American Farmland Trust launched the Soil Health Stewards program with an ambitious idea: if we could train the people protecting farmland to also champion healthy soils, the benefits would ripple far beyond property lines.

Vermont’s Scott Farm Orchard: Building Resilience in a Changing Climate

When a late frost destroyed most of Scott Farm Orchard’s 2023 apple crop, orchardist Erin Robinson and manager Simon Renault turned loss into action. Through the Planning for Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change (PARCC) project, they developed a climate plan focused on diversification, soil health, and community support. From frost fans to their best-selling ginger cider, Scott Farm shows what adaptation and resilience look like on the ground in Vermont.

Turning Conservation into Market Opportunities with USDA’s Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) Initiative

In this third installment of our blog series, we analyze the labels, marketing channels, and environmental markets the PCSC projects proposed to pursue to attract customers who value farm and forest climate-smart conservation practices.

Moving Agrivoltaics Forward in the Midwest

Farmer-Led Innovations in Tillage Reduction: New England Organic Farmers Lead the Way

Organic farmers across New England are rethinking tillage. Through American Farmland Trust’s Farmer Led Innovations project, seven farms are testing new ways to build soil health, save time, and learn from each other’s successes and failures.

Coming Together in Community for Farm to School

American Farmland Trust hosts the New York Farm to School Institute retreat for schools growing farm to school efforts.

How Teachers Are Helping Grow the Next Generation of Land Stewards

Through AFT's Regenerative Agriculture & Soil Health Curriculum