Every year, America loses 1.2 million acres of farmland - an area the size of Delaware - much of it our best and most productive farmland near where most Americans live. In New Hampshire and across the nation, AFT is a vital link between farmers, conservationists and policymakers, working to protect the best farmland , direct growth away from agricultural resources, provide healthy local food to all citizens, and help communities sustain local farms and farming.

What's New

Rhode Island Expands Conservation Easement Protections

Legislation recently enacted in Rhode Island gives the Rhode Island Attorney General new authority to enforce conservation easements, making Rhode Island the eighth state in the country to give its attorney general explicit enforcement power. The statute also permits courts to award attorney’s fees in easement enforcement proceedings, providing a potential avenue for the state and land trusts to recoup legal costs incurred while defending conservation easements against violations. Initiated by the Rhode Island Land Trust Council, the statute is expected to deter violations of easements, which can be an expensive enforcement problem for land trusts and other entities that hold easements.

Initiatives in Vermont and New Hampshire Look to Value and Strengthen Local Farms

Initiatives underway in Vermont and New Hampshire are quantifying the economic impact of their states' farm and food sectors and identifying opportunities for future growth. Vermont's Farm to Plate initiative has drafted "20 Big Goals for 2020" based on months of public input and data collection; the 10-year strategic plan will be finalized by the end of the year. Home Grown, a soon to be released report from the University of New Hampshire, estimates the economic impact from NH's local food system and explores how an expansion of the system could spur job creation and economic growth.

Hannaford Supermarkets Joins New England’s “Keep Local Farms” Dairy Initiative

A Northeast grocery chain has become the first retailer to join forces with the New England Dairy Promotion Board and New England Family Dairy Farms Cooperative to bring the concept of “fair trade” milk to consumers. Hannaford's 71 stores will promote the benefits of local dairy farms—including stewardship of the region’s farmland—and offer shoppers an opportunity to directly support dairy farmers through the “Keep Local Farms” dairy campaign. Cris Coffin, American Farmland Trust’s New England Director, is excited by the Hannaford announcement: “Educating shoppers about the value of our region’s dairy farmers will hopefully encourage them to donate to the campaign and help farmers receive a better price for their milk.”

Focus on New Hampshire

Website Promotes New Hampshire Foods

The New Hampshire Virtual Farmers’ Market offers consumers an on-line opportunity to order and arrange delivery of local farm products year round.  The virtual farmers market coordinated by the NH Farm to Restaurant Connection which partnered with the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food, UNH Office of Sustainability Programs, Farm Credit Service and NH Made, gives consumers around the clock, one-stop shopping for New Hampshire meats, dairy products, baked goods, maple, condiments, beverages as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables. Detailed searches based on product, farm name, or even town name gives results based on the over 60 farms and food businesses listed. 

New Hampshire Policy Update

Economy Impacts Key Source of Funding in New Hampshire

The previously announced Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) Grant Round has been suspended due to shortfalls in the state budget.  As the state of New Hampshire faced a $250 million deficit due to the economy, the LCHIP program will return the general appropriations funding to help the state fill the budget gap.  Current grant commitments will still be met due to the dedicated deed recording fee.  The timing of future grant rounds will be based on revenue from the recording fee.  Created in 2000, the LCHIP program is the primary source of state funding for farmland protection projects.

FederAl Farm Policy and The Farm bill

What’s in the farm bill and why is it important? Find out what’s next for the farm bill and how we can make sure the legislation's promises are turned into programs on the ground.