Healthy soils are the foundation of productive farmland and farm viability. Healthy soils can improve both on-farm productivity and environmental health by preventing the loss of soil and nutrients to our waterways, protecting water quality and water quantity, and restoring soil biology and function. They are also critical to enabling farms and ranches to sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and be more resilient to increasingly intense and erratic weather conditions.

AFT’s Soil Health Stewards Program is an ambitious national effort to engage and support agricultural land protection practitioners in promoting soil health practices with the farmers, ranchers, and others who own and manage permanently protected agricultural land—and on the agricultural land their agency or organization itself owns. The program’s focus is on the more than 6 million acres of permanently protected farms and ranches across the United States, recognizing the lasting impact that soil health improvements on this land will provide.

The program seeks to serve the needs of land trusts and public Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) programs, both those already engaged in this work and those just starting out, to enable them to grow their efforts to support and incentivize producers and landowners of protected land to address soil health.

> Grant Guidelines and Application <

PURPOSE AND OVERVIEW

Land trusts and public Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) programs steward over 6 million acres of permanently protected agricultural land and continue to work with landowners to put more farm and ranch land under easement. Soil health improvements on this permanently protected land will have a lasting impact. Accordingly, AFT’s Soil Health Stewards program seeks to support land trusts and public PACE programs, both those already engaged in this work and those just beginning, in growing their efforts to engage and encourage producers and landowners of protected land to address soil health.

Beginning in the fall of 2021, AFT began to provide unique learning opportunities and support for the staff of land conservation organizations and public PACE programs from across the nation. To date, AFT has provided training and implementation grants for five different cohorts of practitioners– from the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, West, and Northeast. In April 2024, the Soil Health Stewards program will be offered to any land trust or public PACE program from around the country that holds easements funded in part through the federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP). 

This opportunity will provide training on basic soil health principles and practices but will have a special emphasis on soil health principles and practices applicable to land that is grazed (both rangeland and pasture).

Participants in AFT’s Soil Health Stewards virtual training will learn about the economic and environmental benefits of soil health practices and the science behind them while building skills to support farmers, ranchers, and landowners in adopting these practices.

Participants who complete the training will be able to:

• Communicate effectively about the primary benefits of healthy soil and types of conservation practices that enhance soil health.
• Understand basic challenges involved in soil health practice implementation.
• Understand and communicate effectively about basic practices and challenges associated with soil health improvements on rangeland and pasture.
• Connect interested producers with technical advisors, cost-share programs, and other resources to help them adopt soil health practices successfully.
• Understand options and alternatives for addressing and incentivizing specific soil health practices through agricultural conservation easements and other instruments.

Please note:  Both entities that have and have not previously participated in the Soil Health Stewards program are eligible to participate and are encouraged to apply. Entities that have participated previously will be asked to create and make progress on a new Soil Health Stewards Action Plan focused primarily on land that is grazed (either rangeland or pasture) and will be expected to participate fully in the cohort.

AWARD AMOUNT & ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

For April 2024, AFT invites applications from land trusts and public PACE programs (state or local) from any state in the country that holds easements on land protected through USDA’s Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP). Entities must be interested in working with landowners and producers on protected land to increase awareness and adoption of soil health practices. Thirty-five entities will each receive $10,000 to enable two staff to attend a three-day virtual training and to develop programming to engage landowners and producers around soil health on grazed land.

In addition to the training and $10,000 grant, participating entities will receive an additional year of technical assistance from AFT for their outreach efforts. Support will include periodic networking calls and individualized assistance to partners.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTITY PARTICIPATION

• Dedicate up to two staff to attend a virtual Soil Health Stewards training on April 16, 17, 18, & 19 Staff must attend the entire training and participate in all activities and discussions.
• Develop a Soil Health Stewards Action Plan describing actions the agency or organization will take to promote soil health with landowners and farmers, including those who own or manage land on which the organization or agency holds an easement. (Time will be set aside during the training for initial plan development. A final version of the plan will be due by May 31, 2024).
• Participate in project evaluation. The evaluation will include a required pre- and post-training survey, an impact assessment, and an optional interview with AFT program staff and consultants at the end of the grant term.

TIMELINE

• Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. (EST) on February 16
• Letters of award for accepted applications will be granted by March 1.
• Soil Health Stewards training will take place virtually on April 16, 17, 18, & 19.

DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

• $3,000 sent prior to virtual training (April 2024).
• $3,000 sent once Soil Health Stewards Action Plan is submitted (June 2024).
• $4,000 sent upon completion of evaluation (May 2025).

SPECIAL NOTES

• Funding is contingent on the awardee completing a Grant Award Form and submitting it within 14 days after receiving the letter of award.
• A W9 is required to receive awarded funds and must be submitted along with the Grant Award Form.
• Entities are encouraged to join the National Agricultural Land Network either as an organization or as an individual to enable continued learning opportunities with other Soil Health Stewards.
• If the awardee does not provide the required documents within 14 days of notification of the award, AFT may choose to award funds to another applicant.
• This is a competitive application process. Priority will be given to applicants based on both the number of agricultural conservation easements held and the demonstrated interest in advancing soil health as expressed in the application narrative. 

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, submit a completed Soil Health Stewards Program Application electronically through this link:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9DZ9usq8W0ODzin3qwZEyDvQVkx5txtLqRTeVJNEEENUQkpYUDBBTjZKSk1VSlVPTUlSRzBWMlYxNy4u 

QUESTIONS
Contact Beth Fraser, National Agricultural Land Network Manager, at bfraser@farmland.org or 413-240-4282

The Soil Health Stewards program continues in the NRCS’ Northeast region (and beyond) by engaging entities from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. After being awarded grants, twenty-five entities will send staff to attend three days of training and each developed a Soil Health Stewards Action Plan to use in their work. Below is a list of those entities.

Connecticut
Connecticut Farmland Trust
Connecticut Department of Agriculture
Town of Woodstock Agricultural Commission
Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy

Maine
Maine Farmland Trust
Kittery Land Trust
Land for Maine’s Future Program and Maine Bureau of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Resources

Massachusetts
MA Department of Agricultural Resources (PACE Program)
Essex County Greenbelt Association, Inc.
Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust

New Hampshire
Upper Valley Land Trust

New Jersey
Hunterdon Land Trust
State of New Jersey, State Agriculture Development Committee
New Jersey Conservation Foundation

New York
Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District
Genesee Land Trust, Inc.
Agricultural Stewardship Association, Inc.
Columbia Land Conservancy
Scenic Hudson, Inc.
Orange County Land Trust
Saratoga PLAN

Rhode Island
Aquidneck Land Trust
Town of North Kingstown, Rhode Island
RI Department of Environmental Management/Division of Agriculture and Forestry

Vermont
Vermont Housing & Conservation Board

The Soil Health Stewards program continued in the NRCS’ Western region (and beyond) by engaging entities from Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Washington. After being awarded grants, twenty entities sent staff to attend four days of training and each developed a Soil Health Stewards Action Plan to use in their work. Below is a list of those entities.

Alaska
Alaska Farmland Trust Corporation

California
Northern California Regional Land Trust
Sonoma County Agriculture and Open Space District
Yolo Land Trust

Colorado
Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
Colorado West Land Trust

Idaho
Teton Regional Land Trust
Wood River Land Trust

Missouri
Ozark Greenways, Inc.

Nebraska
Nebraska Land Trust

New Mexico
Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust
Taos Land Trust

South Dakota
Northern Prairies Land Trust

Texas
Pines and Prairies Land Trust

Utah
Utah Open Lands

Washington
Jefferson Land Trust
King County
Methow Conservancy
Okanogan Land Trust
Washington Farmland Trust

Participant thoughts:

• the caliber of instructors and staff is exceptional, I’m really excited to continue training
• Love how much I’m learning in a few hours of my time.
• So inspired to see the focus on diverse farmers and “new” ideas about farming that need advancement – just glad to know people are aware and working towards making that better.
• This training has exceeded my expectations
• This has been such a wonderful experience and I have learned so much and made so many meaningful connections. THANK YOU!

The Soil Health Stewards program continued in the NRCS’ Midwest region (and beyond) by engaging entities from North Carolina, Wisconsin, Iowa, West Virginia, Michigan, Illinois. After being awarded grants, fourteen entities sent staff to attend four days of training and each developed a Soil Health Stewards Action Plan to use in their work. Below is a list of those entities and a sample of testimony from participants.

North Carolina
Black Family Land Trust

Wisconsin
Groundswell Conservancy
Drumlin Area Land Trust
Kinnickinnic River Land Trust
Dane County Land & Water Resources Department
Tall Pines Conservancy

Iowa
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

West Virginia
Hampshire County Farmland Protection Board

Michigan
Legacy Land Conservancy
Washtenaw County Parks & Rec
Michigan Department of Agriculture

Illinois
Kane County

Participant thoughts:

• “I thought it was well run and organized. Thone-on-one break-out sessions were a nice way to get to know some of the participants.”
• “Thank you to AFT for putting on such a well-done seminar!”
• “The training was very informative and provided a perspective that we should be able to use with our agricultural community. “
• “I really enjoyed the training and learned so much! This is the kind of training I’ve been wanting for a long time. I can move forward with confidence in promoting soil health after this training. I also feel like I have a strong network of other land trust folks working on the same issues at the same time, which helps me feel confident in my own actions.”
• “The workshop was well organized and presented relevant topics by knowledgeable professionals.  Thank you for offering the diversity of topics.”

The Soil Health Stewards program continued in the NRCS’ Southeast region by engaging entities from Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. After being awarded grants, fourteen entities sent staff to attend four days of training and each developed a Soil Health Stewards Action Plan to use in their work. Below is a list of those entities and a sample of testimony from participants.

Awarded Entities:

Georgia
Athens Land Trust
Carroll County
Georgia-Alabama Land Trust

Kentucky
Fayette County RLMB, Inc.
Kentucky PACE Program

North Carolina
Catawba Lands Conservancy
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Mainspring Conservation Trust, Inc.
Triangle Land Conservancy
NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

South Carolina
Beaufort County Open Land Trust
Oconee Soil and Water Conservation District

Tennessee
Land Trust for Tennessee

Virginia
Piedmont Environmental Council

Participant thoughts:

• “I thought the format & style the information was presented was easy to follow & very informative.”
• “Good use of “common language” we can all use and educate landowners concerning conservation”
• “All good! thanks for keeping the topics diversified- good mix so nothing drags on!”
• “I really enjoyed the Resource assessment tools presentation. It sort of took the concepts we learned on day one and provided practical ways to apply them.”
• “Overall – great job. Still loved the snacks!”

The Soil Health Stewards program kicked of in the NRCS’ Northeast region by engaging entities from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. After being awarded grants, seventeen entities sent staff to attend three days of training and each developed a Soil Health Stewards Action Plan to use in their work. Below is a list of those entities and a sample of testimony from participants.

Awarded Entities:
Maryland
Cardinal Land Conservancy
Cecil Land Trust
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
Lower Shore Land Trust
Maryland Department of Agriculture – Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation

Ohio
Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District
Madison SWCD
Tecumseh Land Trust
Three Valley Conservation Trust

Pennsylvania
Centre County Agricultural Land Preservation Board
Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board
Lancaster Farmland Trust
Land Conservancy of Adams County
Northampton County Farmland Preservation
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Farmland Preservation
Westmoreland County Agricultural Land Preservation
York County Agricultural Land Preservation Board

Participant thoughts:

• “I felt the way each session/discussion was presented met us where we were at which was helpful. Didn’t assume we were experts, but also weren’t born yesterday. Asking about our experiences and hearing others experiences on the topic was helpful.”
• “You have generated a high level of energy and excitement in this office with the training!”
• “I will admit I was initially skeptical of this training really being able to fill 2 1/2 days’ worth of time, but you really did a great job. Great speakers and great conversation.  I learned a lot, and thought I knew quite a bit about soil health to begin with.”
• “Overall, a very well thought out and implemented 3 days. So much information, now it’s time to digest and put the new info to good use.”
• “Though I am not a fan of virtual training…You all did a great job and made 2 1/2 days of virtual sessions very enjoyable and informative.”
• “All of your AFT staff have been great at facilitating and keeping the conversation moving and that has made a great difference and made it just as valuable as being in person!”
• “Thank you for this great mix of content. It’s felt like a comprehensive, meaningful training!”
• “I think it was very valuable information shared and truly increased my understanding as well as changed my perspective”
• “The training truly was excellent, and the facilitators were outstanding. I learned far more than I imagined and am eager to develop and implement our soil health plan.”