AFT Applauds Introduction of the Bipartisan American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act
American Farmland Trust (AFT) applauds Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature for enacting a final FY 2026–27 state budget that delivers meaningful, sustained investments in farmland protection, farm viability, climate resilience, and local food systems across New York.
American Farmland Trust has named Julia Valliant as Director of the national Farms for a New Generation team, where she will lead efforts to increase access to land and capital for the rising generation of farmers and ranchers and support elder farmers and landowners in transferring their farms with dignity and confidence.
AFT Applauds Introduction of the Bipartisan American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act
Highlighting a recent policy update that offers a perspective on our work to advance farmland protection and support agricultural viability across Washington State in 2026.
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Regenerative grazing practices in Texas enhance watershed health by rotating livestock across pastures, these methods improve soil structure, increase water infiltration, and reduce runoff, leading to cleaner waterways and more resilient ecosystems.
Amanda Henderson
AFT's Bonnie McGill is excited about this nutrient-density movement and how it connects to all the great work we’re already doing with farmers across the country to build soil health and further, healthy food.
Bonnie McGill
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Hear from AFT’s Smart Solar Program Coordinator on efforts to define agrivoltaics and encourage thoughtful policy and project design to benefit farmers, energy production, and land stewardship in California and Colorado.
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Since January, AFT has been planting seeds for improved agricultural policy across the Midwest. This blog is part of a three-part series spotlighting our work in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
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During this past Women’s History Month, AFT collaborated with local partners in Northern Illinois to host events focused on farmland succession planning, sharing resources to empower women farmers and landowners to guide their land or family farm transition to the next generation.
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Read on to learn what we’ve been up to in Indiana, what we’re working on now, and an action you can take to support better food and farm policy in your state!
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This blog is part of a three-part series spotlighting our work in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Read on to learn what we’ve been up to in Wisconsin, what we’re working on now, and an action you can take to support better food and farm policy in your state!
I recently spent time traveling and visiting Kentucky farmers growing rye as part of AFT's Kentucky Rye Cereal Crop Initiative.
Brian Brandt
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AFT's New York Farmland Access Fund aims to holistically address land access and affordability challenges in New York.
Our AFT staff, Rachel, Floréal, and Marlee reflect on their experiences from the recent Marbleseed Organic Conference in February 2025 and the topic of embracing slowness as a strategy to commit to a larger vision of a sustainable future.
AFT’s Brooks Lamb caught up with Claudia for a quick Q&A after the Land Transfer Navigators training in San Antonio, Texas. In the conversation below, they discuss farm transition planning, conflict management, role playing exercises—and the importance of good, consistent communication.
Brooks Lamb
Those of us in conservation agriculture talk a lot about scaling the adoption of cover crops and conservation tillage in the US
Biochar — a carbon-rich material made by heating organic matter in a low-oxygen environment — has emerged as a potential tool for building soil organic matter, improving water retention, and storing carbon long-term. But for many farmers, biochar still feels more like a research concept than a practical option.
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The Midwest begins to thaw, hinting at the next growing season, and the American Farmland Trust Midwest team is out in the field listening, learning, and educating. From late winter to early spring, our staff meets with farmers, landowners, and partners across the Midwest to dig into the topics that matter most—protecting our farmland, keeping farmers on the land, and promoting sound agriculture practices. Here’s a look at where we’ve been and at what’s coming up in Spring 2026.
AFT celebrates National School Breakfast Week and Farm to School programs in New York
Caro is AFT New England’s Soil Health Program Manager, where she organizes farmer networks, provides technical support, and conducts research on agricultural practices and soil health. From perennial gardens to peer learning spaces, her work is rooted in connection — to land, farmers, and community. Read on to learn what she’s planting this spring and the farm lessons that continue to shape her work.
New legislation to increase support for farmers, ranchers, and foresters with small-acreage operations across the country through the Office of Small Farms Establishment Act would create a new office within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) focused on ensuring that smaller operations have better access to the critical federal programs that provide farm loans, conservation funding, crop insurance, and much more.
Sunday Bell Farm is responding to extreme weather by improving soil health, water planning, and pasture management. With guidance from AFT’s PARCC program, the Vermont dairy and livestock farm is developing strategies to stay productive in a changing climate.
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