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.
As Texas faces rising energy demand and farmland loss, new legislation presents a pivotal opportunity to expand clean energy while protecting agricultural resources. By supporting rooftop solar, agrivoltaics, and smart utility-scale siting, Texas can lead in balancing renewable energy growth with farmland preservation.
Garrett Bader
Stephanie Castle
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The sturdy steel toe boots that protect your feet. The reliable truck that gets you from your fields to your markets. The tools and structures that help you grow, process, and share food with your community. This is the overlooked infrastructure of farming.
Jenna Farineau
At Bardwell Farm, farmer Harrison Bardwell is blending innovation with tradition to tackle soil health and disease pressure—proving there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to resilient farming.
Erinn Roberts & Kevin Antoszewski
At Astarte Farm, leaf mulch is proving to be a powerful tool for building soil health—offering a plastic-free, low-cost solution for weed suppression and resilience.
Erinn Roberts & Kevin Antoszewski
In this conversation, Brooks Lamb speaks about Tennessee’s new Farmland Preservation Fund, a $25 million, state-funded initiative designed to help farmers voluntarily protect their land from development through conservation easements.
Sarah J. Morton is redefining what it means to lead a family farm in central Virginia by combining her deep agricultural expertise with a powerful vision for community, culture, and conservation.
Nicole Gwishiri
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There’s nothing like a good read to slow down the season. And there’s nothing better than a trusted recommendation from someone who really knows the book.
The AMP redesign and reconciliation bill present a critical opportunity to strengthen conservation programs that support farmers and ranchers in adopting practices proven to enhance soil health, improve water and air quality, and boost farm profitability. AFT’s analysis shows that continued investment in conservation initiatives like cover crops, reduced tillage, and nutrient management yields both environmental and economic benefits, making them essential to long-term agricultural sustainability.
Michelle Perez, PhD
From June 15 - July 15, 2025, post a photo of your #NoFarmsNoFood bumper sticker on Instagram for a chance to win merch!
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Can you name one of the Seven Wonders of the World? It’s a bit of a trick question, because it turns out there are multiple different lists. It makes sense … why limit the wonders to just seven?
Jean Brokish
The Goodell family had continuously farmed 275 acres for over 100 years, but the final generation had to get creative to find a successor.
Olivia Fuller
“A lot of the "magic" in a farmers market is the unique bond that's formed between the producer and consumer. Questions are asked, "aha" moments are had, and you leave each stand with not just a product or a sale, but a purpose. THAT is invaluable.”
Jenna Farineau & Liz Amodeo
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In August, AFT’s Midwest team program staff completed the Soil & Water Conservation Society’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) and attended the 80th Soil and Water Conservation Society’s Annual Conference in Costa Mesa, California. Midwest staff Rachel Lechuga, Floreal Crubaugh, and Marlee Giacometti are AFT’s most recent graduates of the second class of the Emerging Leaders Program (fun fact: Helen VanBeck, our Midwest Program Manager) graduated from the first-ever program. Here’s a look back at what the program meant to them and the snapshots that capture their achievements.
Rachel Lechuga
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Rachel Irvine
On a thin strip of land between two hayfields in Walpole, New Hampshire, a once-impenetrable wall of invasive plants is being transformed into pollinator-friendly hedgerow. Where bittersweet, honeysuckle, and multiflora rose once dominated, clover is now blooming, pollinators are returning, and the sunlight can actually reach the soil. This remarkable change has been fueled by the passion and persistent work of Holly and her family at Brookfield Farm, powered in part by a Regenerative Livestock Farming (RLF) microgrant from American Farmland Trust.
Lia Raz
High Lawn Farm has been raising Jersey cows in Lee, Massachusetts, for over 100 years. The cows have always had access to pasture, but until recently, the farm relied on continuous grazing. That began to change when the farm received a Regenerative Livestock Farming (RLF) microgrant from American Farmland Trust. The funds helped them fence off 20 acres of previously idle land, giving their dry cows access to fresh, well-rested pasture—and creating space for true rotational grazing for the first time.
Lia Raz
Michael Shulman
Michael Shulman
We dig deeper into one way of quantifying how well practices address the SWAPA-E resources concerns. We turn our attention to another set of three practices: Tree/Shrub Planting, Prescribed Grazing, and Conservation Cover
Michelle Perez, PhD
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