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

What's at Stake for the Northeast in the Next Farm Bill?

U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern and Chellie Pingree spoke about prospects for farm bill programs important to the Northeast in a two-webinar series we hosted with Wholesome Wave, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group and New England Farmers Union. One webinar looked at conservation programs, including potential changes and funding cuts to the federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program and the future of the regional equity provision. The other covered prospects for helping to rebuild local and regional food systems. Speakers also included senior staff to Senator Patrick Leahy along with New Hampshire Agriculture Commissioner of Agriculture Lorraine Merrill and Massachusetts Commissioner of Agriculture Scott Soares. Recordings of the webinars, along with more information about the farm bill, are available at farmbillfacts.org.    

A Year of Progress in New England

Another year has come to pass and with it a list of successes—and challenges—impacting farms and food across New England. 2011 was marked by unusual weather, underscoring the need for effective policies and programs to keep farms thriving despite the inherent risks and to help support strong local food systems. 

This year, we worked with a wide variety of partners throughout New England to promote the critical importance of farms and farmland to New England’s economy, environment, public health, community character and livability. Here are a few highlights from our work across the region. Read more about our accomplishments from the past year in New England and see a snapshot of what lies ahead.

American Farmland Trust Welcomes Leah Mayor

We recently welcomed Leah Mayor to our New England Office, where she will serve as the Working Lands Alliance Project Director and New England Project Manager. Mayor brings an extensive background in education and community leadership, as well as experience with sustainability initiatives focused on food and agricultural systems. Her work has focused on leveraging enthusiasm of a growing local foods movement to protect farmland, natural heritage and artisanal traditions. Mayor is also the founder and principal of Taking Root, an ecotourism initiative devoted to stimulating local economies, building community viability, and celebrating our connections to food and culinary history. Please join us in welcoming Leah!

New Loan Program for Beginning Farmers

Farm Credit East, Yankee Farm Credit and CoBank are offering a new program to address a major hurdle for new farm businesses—initial access to capital. Farm Start is a beginning farmer loan program that will provide investments in working capital of up to $50,000 to farmers, forestry producers, fishermen and farm related service businesses and cooperatives in their first three years of business. A business plan is required, and participants will have up to five years to repay the loan.  

2010 New England Farm Relief Concerts with Richie Havens in November

Folk legend Richie Havens will perform for the 2010 New England Farm Relief Concert on Friday, November 12, 2010 at the Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon, NH and Saturday, November 13, 2010 at the Latchis Theatre in Brattleboro, VT. Proceeds will go to the Microloan Fund for Farmers which was launched in 2008 by The Strolling of the Heifers and The Carrot Project to address the credit needs of farmers unable to borrow elsewhere.

The Microloan Fund is currently focused on small- and mid-sized farms located in Vermont or in Massachusetts that are marketing at least a portion of their products to local markets. Loans are capped at $10,000 and may be used for capital investments, repairs, short-term operating needs, and emergency funds.

Get tickets for Lebanon, NH or for Brattleboro, VT.

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.