AFT Statement on House Farm Bill Passage
Apr 30, 2026
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.
Kinzie Reiss
New England had a mixed year for farmland this session — some real wins, some hard-fought compromises, and a few reminders of how much work is still ahead.
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.
Virginia farmer Bob Waring is redefining agriculture by “growing fertilizer” through regenerative practices that boost soil health, resilience, and profits.
Elizabeth Beggins
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.
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.
Lia Raz
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.
Peter Ten Eyck was a pillar of the farming community in New York state, and a trailblazer for conservation and stewardship.
David Haight
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Alan Bailey
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.
Lia Raz
American Farmland Trust hosts the New York Farm to School Institute retreat for schools growing farm to school efforts.
Heidi Exline
Through AFT's Regenerative Agriculture & Soil Health Curriculum
Kinzie Reiss
This fall, farmers across California are invited to attend four free events designed to explore how agrivoltaics can support working lands and strengthen farm resilience.
While much of the nation’s attention has been rightly focused on the current federal shutdown, we cannot lose sight of the fact that parts of the Farm Bill have expired at a time when agriculture is facing incredible economic challenges and uncertainty.
Samantha Levy
Eliza Paterson
Meet Alissa White, Deputy Director of AFT New England, and discover how her passion for farming, soil health, conservation, and supporting farmers is helping build more resilient agricultural communities across New England.
The 18th annual AFMC runs Aug. 1 - Sept. 30 on markets.farmland.org. The event is a fun celebration that helps farmers markets across the country earn national recognition and local prestige. Markets can join the celebration and encourage their customers to vote, an excellent marketing tool and a pathway to winning a piece of the $15,000 prize pool.
New England had a mixed year for farmland this session — some real wins, some hard-fought compromises, and a few reminders of how much work is still ahead.
Learn how American Farmland Trust's latest research is helping shape more effective conservation planning, climate disaster relief, and soil health programs by centering farmers' experiences and expertise.
Discover how American Farmland Trust's Integrated Whole Farm Planning Pilot is helping New England livestock farmers strengthen farm viability through business planning, conservation support, succession planning, and peer networks that build long-term resilience.
Discover how American Farmland Trust and Island Grown Initiative are advancing soil health through reduced tillage, biochar, and living clover trials.
Learn more on how Brad Buttrey helps farmers implement conservation practices that enhance soil health, improve water quality, and support human and non-human communities in Tennessee.
Bear Roots Farm in central Vermont is building climate resilience through diversified farming, perennial crops, soil health practices, and community support. Learn how this innovative farm is adapting to extreme weather while strengthening its business and local food system.
AFT’s Beef Grazing Network is launching a redesigned Beef Producer Economic Resilience Initiative, now part of USDA’s Advancing Markets for Producers program.
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When conservation is captured in acres, not feet, how do we talk about the impact of urban farms within the agricultural ecosystem? I would argue one way is through ingenuity, creativity, and community impact. Most urban farms in the Midwest were not created solely focused on making a profit. The farmers have a strong desire to give back to their communities and the earth all while growing their small businesses. Last year, we profiled three urban farmers in and near Kansas City, Missouri who received micro-grants of $3,500 through a partnership between American Farmland Trust and a Kansas City-based urban agriculture non-profit, Cultivate Kansas City.
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Virginia's new agrivoltaics definition marks an important milestone in the conversation about solar development and farmland. Drawing on farmer perspectives and AFT's Smart Solar℠ approach, this article explores what the legislation means for agriculture, energy, and rural communities.
AFT programs highlight peer learning for farmers committed to advancing conservation, land stewardship, and community resilience in their communities. This Farmer Profile is funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to highlight inspiring farmers who work to protect, steward, and manage U.S. farmland.
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