Program areas at AFT
State, local and federal programs -we've programs in the following regions: California, midwest, new york, new england, mid-atlantic, pacific northwest, southeast, and Texas; and our national initiatives are: agriculture conservation innovations, climate initiative, Farmland information center, farm legacy, farm viability, farms for a new generation, federal policy, land protection, national agricultural land network, water initiative, and women for the land.
Communications and media outreach -aft continuously engages the public through our direct communications with our members, donors, various publications and media outreach.
Public education -advocate - aft fights for programs and policies that save Farmland, support farmers and enhance our environment.educate - aft educates the public about our nation's farms, Farmland and farmers.innovate - aft pioneers cutting-edge techniques that protect Farmland and protect natural resources.investigate - aft conducts respected research as the foundation of our programs.collaborate - aft builds coalitions to achieve large-scale solutions and lasting change.
Other programsin 2022, aft:-provided training, education, and direct support to more than 9,000 farmers, producers, and conservation professionals, including 750 women producers and landowners. -awarded, as the lead partner, an eight-state, $30-mllion grant from usda partnerships for climate smart commodities to transition the u.s. Beef supply chain to carbon neutral.-awarded over $1 million dollars in microgrants to farmers and ranchers across the country to assist in launching, growing, and sustaining their farms. -took 275 actions, including meetings, events, publications, testimony, and academic conferences, to advance the policy work and research of aft. -expanded our reach in the southeast by putting down roots in Georgia, after our farms under threat 2040: choosing an abundant future report found that Georgia has some of the most threatened Farmland in america.-launched our buy-protect-sell+ program, which simultaneously protects Farmland, advances regenerative practices, and makes land more affordable for next-generation farmers. -welcomed a total of 830 member organizations to the national agricultural land network to elevate efforts to protect agricultural land around the country. -partnered with Maine Farmland Trust to protect more than 20 working farms. -hired a new midwest Farmland protection manager to accelerate Farmland protection goals in the midwest.-celebrated a major win in Idaho after canyon county commissioners approved a 2030 comprehensive plan that, for the first time, contains strong provisions to protect farmland.-achieved a win in Connecticut secured by our working lands alliance when governor ned lamont signed a state budget allocating nearly $14 million to the state's new Farmland restoration and climate resiliency program to help farmers adopt climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices.-gave $1.5 million to farmers for soil and water conservation practices in depleted groundwater basins in the san joaquin valley, california.-released smart solar principles ensuring that as new solar projects are built, they won't harm agriculture.-started the Virginia grassland bird initiative, which works to stop the loss of grassland birds while improving the resiliency of working landscapes.-released farms under threat 2040: choosing an abundant future, a report vividly depicting how americans can save up to 13.5 million acres of the nation's irreplaceable Farmland and ranchland by embracing smart growth and minimizing sprawl.-awarded a total of $1 million in grants to over 200 farmers via American Farmland Trust's brighter future fund, powered by tillamook creamery.