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Farmland for a Next Genera0on
American Farmland Trust Na2onal nonprofit founded in 1980 with a mission to protect farmland, promote sound farming prac0ces, and keep farmers on the land.
Farmland in Transi2on
• 750,000 acres of farmland in New England and NY lost to development in last 30 years
• Remaining farmland oHen fragmented
• Rising farmland values
Farmland in Transi2on
• 24% of farmland in NY and New England is leased
• 25% of farmland in NY and New England owned by farmers 65 and older
• Next genera2on of farmers: new and beginning farmers, family farm transfers
Farmland Trends in NY
Farmland Trends in NY
Mid-Hudson Region • #2 increase in housing density
• #2 largest increase in # of beginning farmers (farming less than 10 years)
Capital Region • #1 increase in housing density
• #1 largest % increase in # of beginning farmers
Reports
Building a Future With Farmers: Challenges Faced by Young, American Farmers and a National Strategy to Help Them Succeed surveyed 1,000 farmers from across the United States and found that access to capital, access to land and health insurance present the largest obstacles for beginners. Land Availability, Government Regs Concern Young Farmers WASHINGTON, D.C., March 8, 2012 – The latest survey of participants in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program …total of 21 percent of young farmers surveyed ranked burdensome government regulations and “red tape” as a top concern; an additional 21 percent cited securing adequate land to grow crops and raise livestock as their top challenge today.
Reports Farmers on the Edge an assessment of greenmarket farmers’ needs, and the growing challenges of keeping their farms viable • 53% want to buy land but say there are barriers in the way • 76% say financial planning to acquire land is a priority for assistance • 43% say they will re@re in the next 20 years • 50% want to preserve their farmland but don’t know how • 58% say succession planning is a priority area of assistance for farmers • 56% of farmers with ren@ng experience iden@fied finding suitable rental land as a significant challenge
Connec0cut Planning Your Land’s Future: An
Introductory Workshop for Landowners
• Connec2cut land owner workshops
• Estate planning and land transfer; land protec2on op2ons; land leasing
Connec0cut Planning Your Land’s Future: An
Introductory Workshop for Landowners
• Coopera2ve effort of AFT, CT Dept. of Ag; UConn Extension; USDA RMA; Land For Good
• “We have been leasing our farmland on a yearly basis, and just winging it. It’s nice to know there is help out there to put together a be^er lease.”
New England/New York Farmland Advisors
• Funded by Northeast SARE, with support from Northeast Farm Credit AgEnhancement
• Collabora2ve project of American Farmland Trust and Land for Good
• A training program about farmland access and farm transfers
New England/New York Farmland Advisors
• Applica2on process for professionals working with farmers and landowners • Training: surveys, webinars, resources, conference, small group conference calls for follow-‐up support
New York
Exis2ng Farmlink Programs
• Catskills FarmLink
• Columbia Land Conservancy Farmer Landowner Match Program
• NOFA NY Land Linking Database
• New York Farmlink
• Westchester Land Trust Farmland Match
• Others
New York Greater Hudson Valley Farmlink
Network
Organiza0ons interested in Partnership • Agricultural Stewardship Associa2on
• Columbia Land Conservancy*
• Cornell Coopera2ve Extension of Orange County
• Cornell Coopera2ve Extension of Ulster County
• Dutchess Land Conservancy
• Glynwood Center
• GrowNYC
• NOFA – NY*
• NY Farmlink*
• Orange County Land Trust
• Roundout Valley Growers
• Saratoga PLAN
• Westchester Land Trust*
• Winnakee Land Trust
*exis9ng farmlink programs
New York Greater Hudson Valley Farmlink
Network
New York Greater Hudson Valley Farmlink
Network
• Regional website/database
• Match facilita2on • Training and educa2on
New York Policy Ini2a2ves
Recommended Ac2ons: • Review of state owned lands available for agricultural use.
• Guidance to state agencies about leasing state owned land for agriculture, with special considera2on for beginning farmers.
New York Policy Ini2a2ves
Recommended Ac2ons: • Priority to farmland protec2on projects that help with successful farm transfers and transi2oning farmland to a new genera2on of farmers.
