James Habana Hafner

Jim leads AFT's New England Regional Program. He has an extensive background in program management, strategy, and administration in regional, national, and international agricultural service and advocacy organizations. Before joining AFT, Jim served as the Executive Director of Land For Good, a New England regional organization focused on farmland access, land tenure security, farm transfer and succession – and a long-time AFT collaborator. Under Jim's tenure, Land For Good significantly increased its regional visibility, reach, and partnerships, including serving thousands of farmers, farm families, landowners, and professionals through direct advising, referrals, and training.

Jim earned a Master of Science in International Agriculture from the University of California at Davis, where he focused on agro-ecology and researched farmer adoption of soil conservation and agro-forestry farming systems. He also holds a Doctorate in Natural Resources from Cornell University, where his dissertation research on smallholder agriculture and watershed management policy in the Philippines was supported by a prestigious Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship. Raised in western Massachusetts, Jim served a dozen years on his town's conservation commission and has taught environmental studies, soils, and geography courses at universities on both coasts.