Our publications cover a range of topics helpful to landowners, community leaders, concerned citizens, farmers and ranchers, farmland protection professionals, planners and policymakers. Learn about model plans, proven programs and creative solutions to achieve a healthy balance among sustainable agriculture and development, farmland protection and environmental quality.

PLanning For Agriculture guides

Agriculture is increasingly recognized as a critical element of New York's economy and a key producer of fresh, healthy foods and renewable energy. This guide highlights 80 towns and counties that have taken proactive actions to keep farming viable. Topics include agricultural economic development, food and public heath, zoning and land use planning, purchase of development rights, public education and more. Download a free version of the guide or order a copy.   

This guide outlines a broad range of tools available to help local governments plan for the future of agriculture in Connecticut.  The guide is a joint project of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and American Farmland Trust with funding provided by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the Hartford Foundation.  Download the report or visit the Connecticut Planning for Agriculture website for more information.

After years of decline, farming in Maine is on the rise. But farmers still face challenges, and communities can help farmers address them. A new guide released by Maine Farmland Trust and American Farmland Trust, provides specific examples and suggestions of what local officials and residents can do to support farming in their communities. Read more about Cultivating Maine's Agricultural Future or download a copy of the guide [PDF].

A Vision for Rhode Island Agriculture lays out how consumers, communities, lawmakers and state agencies throughout Rhode Island can build a stronger and more resilient food system and agricultural economy. This plan was produced by the Rhode Island Agricultural Partnership and facilitated by our New England office. More than 400 people participated in the planning process to identify opportunities and challenges for the state’s agricultural sector and to develop and prioritize goals and strategies. Download a copy of the guide [PDF].

Find a similar guide for North Carolina below.

Landowner guides

AFT's landowner guides educate agricultural landowners about the variety of public programs and private options available to help them conserve their land and improve its productivity. Free downloads of the guides are available below.

• Farmland ConneCTions: A Guide for Connecticut Towns, Institutions and Land Trusts Using or Leasing Farmland
  Helps make farmland “connections” by walking through the legal and practical considerations involved in leasing farmland and providing information and case studies of successful community farms that have been established around the state.
• New York Agricultural Landowner Guide to Tax, Conservation and Management Programs
  is an indispensable tool for farmers and rural landowners trying to navigate the sometimes confusing array of public programs available to them.
• Ohio Agricultural Landowners Guide
  Summarizes a full range of federal conservation programs, state farmland preservation options and assorted local initiatives for farmers who want to conserve and protect their land.
• Rocky Mountain Agricultural Landowners Guide to Conservation
  and Sustainability
  Describes state and federal conservation programs available to farmers and ranchers in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. more
• South Carolina Agricultural Landowners Guide
  Gives an overview of land conservation and stewardship, tax reduction, and farm enterprise development programs in South Carolina. more
• Kentucky Agricultural Landowners Guide for Conservation and Profitability
  Provides an overview of the alternatives available to Kentucky landowners who want to save their land and improve its productivity. more
• Conservation Options for Connecticut Farmland: A Guide for Landowners, Land Trusts and Municipalities
  Covers farmland protection tools and programs available in Connecticut and answers questions about agricultural conservation easements. more
• Guide to Environmental Markets for Farmers and Ranchers (Washington State)
  Explains how producers can earn supplemental profit from selling environmental services generated on their farms while also continuing normal farming operations.

Several publications are offered for sale. Agricultural landowner guides and Fact Sheets are available as free PDF downloads.

Publications for Sale

Planning for Agriculture in New York
This updated publication gives farmers, local governments and communities the information they need to work together to put the brakes on poorly planned development and keep farmers farming.  This resource profiles more than 80 case studies of towns and counties that have taken action to strengthen economic opportunities for local farmers and protect farmland. It describes 12 tools that can be used to support the business of agriculture in any community. 2010, 88 pages. Please note that delivery will take up to 4-6 weeks.

Planning for an Agricultural Future:
A Guide for North Carolina Farmers and Local Governments
Intended as a working document for farmers, planners and county commissioners, Planning for an Agricultural Future: A Guide for North Carolina Farmers and Local Governments mixes a general discussion of existing planning tools with specific examples from North Carolina communities that have developed innovative ways to support the agricultural sector. The guide is available online at www.farmlandinfo.org along with a resource index to sample documents and ordinances. Print copies of the guide are also available. 2007, 32 pages, $9.95

Cost of Community Services Studies: Making the Case for Conservation
Saving land saves money. More than 80 Cost of Community Services (COCS) studies conducted nationwide by AFT and others show that privately owned farm, forest and ranch lands generate more in local revenues than they require in services. AFT developed the COCS methodology to measure the net fiscal contribution of different land uses, including working farm and ranch lands. With a COCS study, citizens and community leaders can make more informed land use decisions. Making the Case for Conservation evaluates the COCS approach, shares lessons from AFT's experience and can help you decide whether a COCS study would be useful to your community. 2002, 78 pages, $16.95

Your Land is Your Legacy
Jeremiah P. Cosgrove and Julia Freedgood
Third Edition, Revised and Updated
Have you ever wondered how to protect your land and, at the same time, ensure your financial well-being? Your Land is Your Legacy answers all your estate planning questions and incorporates tax changes from the 2001 Tax Relief Reconciliation Act. Written especially for farmers and ranchers to share with their advisors, this book guides readers through the maze of estate planning options and pitfalls. It includes examples and worksheets, and addresses the variety of strategies to keep land available for the next generation of farmers. 2002, 58 pages, (was $13.95) NEW SPECIAL! $10.50

Saving American Farmland: What Works
AFT's comprehensive guidebook, Saving American Farmland, examines tools and strategies that people use to protect farmland and includes case studies of successful programs in California, Maryland and Washington. The final chapter offers lessons communities can learn from these farmland protection pioneers and outlines the steps involved in creating a farmland protection program. 1997, 334 pages, (was $34.95) NEW SPECIAL! $18.50