Join American Farmland Trust and the Delaware Department of Agriculture

Saving American Farmland was an innovative idea when American Farmland Trust was founded in 1980. Today it is national policy. Local, state and federal programs and the collective efforts of thousands of individual landowners and land trusts have protected millions of acres in perpetuity. Yet despite the impressive public support and private action, more than 3,000 acres of farmland continue to be lost each day. The pressures are great; there’s much work left to do.

As the face of the American farmer changes and urban influences suffuse our working landscapes, Farming on the Edge: The Next Generation is the only national conference that brings together people who care about America’s rural legacy, land use and the future of farming and ranching. Participants and presenters will share information and ideas, network, find allies and form partnerships to achieve a healthy balance among sustainable agriculture and sustainable development, farmland protection and environmental quality.

The core workshop and keynote sessions of the conference will be held November 13–15 in Newark, Delaware, with special bus tours and other activities scheduled before and after.

Proactive strategies to curb sprawl and protect farmland and other important resources have made Delaware a visionary leader. The Mid-Atlantic region offers unrivaled opportunities to learn from national experts about model plans, proven programs and creative solutions to problems facing all of American agriculture.

The theme of the 2006 conference is "The Next Generation"—the next generation of national farm policies, farmland protection programs, community plans, production practices and markets, and the next generation of farmers themselves. The 2006 conference is hosted by the Delaware Department of Agriculture. "Livable Delaware" initiatives, protective strategies to curb sprawl and the Department of Agriculture's protection of 442 farms and nearly 80,000 acres have made Delaware a visionary leader in farmland preservation.

Help shape the future of agriculture.

Who Should Attend?

Agricultural Educators
Community Leaders
Concerned Citizens
Environmentalists
Farmers, Foresters and Ranchers
Farmland Protection Program Managers
Government Officials and Policymakers
Land Owners and Managers
Land Trust Staff and Volunteers
Natural Resource Professionals
Planners
Realtors
Researchers

The Mid-Atlantic region is home to some of the nation's oldest farmland protection programs. Its rich and diverse agricultural heritage offers conference participants many opportunities to learn from model programs and innovative solutions. The region’s knowledgeable and seasoned experts will be featured in more than 30 workshops, keynote sessions, panel discussions and bus tours. Workshop presenters include agricultural educators and researchers; conservationists; economic development officers; farmland protection program managers; farmers, ranchers and foresters; land trust staff and volunteers; planners; and local, state and federal officials and policymakers.

Keynote speakers are author and farmer Michael Ableman, AFT President Ralph Grossi, and Stonyfield Farm Chairman and President Gary Hirshberg. Other featured speakers include Delaware's Governor Ruth Ann Minner and Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse.

For more information, contact Doris Mittasch.

Download the conference brochure here [PDF].