Indiana | American Farmland Trust

Did you know that the state of Indiana has been losing more than 40 acres of farmland per day? You have the power to help save our farms and farmland. You can directly support Indiana farmers and farmers markets by taking these simple actions.

	Support your local farmers by buying direct at farmers markets, farm stands, and CSAs.
	Spread the No Farms No Food® message by requesting a free bumper sticker.
	Be a part of the movement calling for healthy farms, healthy food and healthy communities and donate to help us save the land that sustains us.

Boy in Cornfield Midwest: The Year in Review

American Farmland Trust has fought to protect farmland in the Midwest for 27 years. Sometimes called America’s breadbasket, the Midwest is blessed with prime farmland soils that are the envy of the world, but we know we can’t afford to take these priceless resources for granted. That’s why we’ve been hard at work in this important region, and have made significant progress over the past year.

farmland protection in Harrison County

With more than 108,000 agricultural acres threatened by residential development, Harrison County worked for several years—with advice and encouragement from American Farmland Trust—to implement a local program to purchase conservation easements from willing landowners. A Farmland and Open Space Conservation Survey conducted by Purdue University confirmed residents support for the county's efforts and three programs are now helping to protect important farmland:

Ultimate Farmland preservation tour

Tree line in Indiana Almost 200 leaders from Indiana have participated in our Ultimate Farmland Preservation Tour—a four-day bus tour through Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey; three states with established, successful farmland protection programs that have been operating for over 20 years. This rolling classroom teaches participants the nuts and bolts of how to create a successful farmland protection program at the local level. Many participants have gone on to work in their communities to communicate the many values of protecting farmland.

Sunrise over Mont Clair Farm courtesy of Ewing family

Sixth Oldest Farm in Indiana Is Protected

Since 1802, the Mont Clair Farm’s productive and well managed soils have produced a bounty of food and, at times, fiber. Mark and Rebecca Ewing permanently protected the 500-acre farm this spring through a conservation easement, and described why they chose to make the decision: “Our ancestors bore numerous hardships to keep Mont Clair Farm together for this length of time. We realized the profit gained from developing our land could buy nothing more valuable than our descendants owning and appreciating the farm as it has been for seven generations.”

Contact Us
Michael J. Baise
Midwest Director
2717 Blue Ridge Court
Bloomington, IN 47408
(317) 508-0756
mbaise@farmland.org

To learn more about agriculture in your state, visit the Indiana state profile page at the Farmland Information Center.