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American Farmland Trust works to protect farmland and make sure farming remains a way of life in Pennsylvania. Our programs, projects and advocacy have impacted communities across the state.
Spotlight on Pennsylvania:
 AFT recieved a 650,000 grant to support the Mid Atlantic Clean Water Initiative which will implement Enhanced BMP challenge programs in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
AFT launched the Mid Atlantic Clean Water Initiative to assist farmers enhance their nutrient management and reduce high nutrient levels that impair local and regional water quality, The new project has started with a $650,000 Conservation Innovation Grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grant was part of a $5 million fund specifically for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. By working with producers in the field and at the policy level, AFT hopes to reduce between 200,000 and 270,000 pounds of nitrogen and set the stage to expand the program in each state over three years.
Pennsylvania’s Budget Supports Wastewater Plants, Leaves Farmers Behind
 Pennsylvania’s PA Fair Share for Clean Water Coalition members, including AFT, claimed a major victory for clean water with the approval of $1.2 billion for water infrastructure, helping communities and ratepayers meet looming mandates.Yet Pennsylvania farmers, facing the same clean water mandates, will receive little financial support to reduce nutrient runoff from their farms.Instead, many agriculture programs were kept at current levels, cut or eliminated. Guaranteeing clean rivers and a healthy Chesapeake Bay will take a coordinated effort. Pennsylvania leaders’ recognition of the need for new funding for clean water is very encouraging, yet the underfunding of agriculture leaves much work to be done.
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Focus on Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's farmland preservation program has protected more acres than any other state-level program. American Farmland Trust played an instrumental role in the development and creation of this now 20-year-old farmland protection program. As of February 2008, the state has protected
382,845
acres of Pennsylvania’s most productive farmland by working with 57 county governments. more
Though this challenge has nothing to do with extreme sports, these farmers are still involved in taking risks. Farmers are preparing to grow this year’s corn crop with a less of a key ingredient: nitrogen—one of the key determinants of the crop yield. Putting on too little could mean serious profit losses, especially with corn prices at historic highs. However, nitrogen fertilizer prices are also rising and over-application can eat into the bottom line as well. But, nitrogen has another cost as any environmentally concerned citizen in the Chesapeake Bay region can tell you: Nitrogen from numerous sources is over fertilizing the Bay causing problems with plant and animal life alike. more
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A new farm bill: what’s in it for Pennsylvania?
After years of work, we have a new 2008 Farm Bill. What does it mean for you and your community? From the foods we eat, to protecting farms from development, to helping keep our drinking water clean, the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 has many programs that affect all of us everyday.
Contact Us
Jim Baird
Mid-Atlantic States Director
1200 18th Street, N.W., Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
(p) 202-378-1235 (f) 202-659-8339
jbaird@farmland.org
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