New England

It’s never been more important to protect New England's threatened farms and farmland.

In New England, farming takes place alongside a population of almost 15 million people.

Farms have been a part of New England's landscape and history for centuries.

But due to population growth, development and sprawl from our cities, the amount of land left producing food in New England is small – just five percent.

Still, farming has an enduring and important presence in the six-state region – from the dairy farms and maple sugarhouses of Vermont to the cranberry bogs of Massachusetts and blueberry fields of Maine.

Perhaps nowhere else in the country are farms and farmers more endangered.

We are working to save them – for our economy, our way of life and our very ability to feed ourselves.

4 million acres

of farmland in New England
16 million acres

of farmland needed to feed New England’s population
3 billion

in New England farm products sold in 2012
285,000 acres

of farmland permanently protected

Why are New England farms so important?

THE FOOD WE EAT

New England farms produce everything from milk and meats to berries and vegetables – 50 percent of the dairy products and 40 percent of the vegetables consumed in the region.
THE ECONOMY

Farming is a business that generates billions in sales, jobs and related industries. Farms also maintain the rural character and distinctive New England landscapes that attract tourism.
THE ENVIRONMENT

New England farms have been good stewards of the land for generations – providing environmental benefits from clean water to wildlife habitat.

What are the challenges?

Development

Urban development and sprawl continues to claim some of the region’s best farmland. The amount of cropland in New England has declined 11 percent since just 2007.
Aging Farmers

30 percent of New England farmers are aged 65 and older. What they do with their farmland when they retire will influence the landscape for years to come.
High Land Prices

New England land values are among the highest in the country. Both aspiring and current farmers are finding it harder to afford the land they need for farming.
Demand for Local Food

90 percent of our food comes from outside the region. Consumers increasingly want local food, but that requires rebuilding New England’s food infrastructure.

AFT's ROLE

American Farmland Trust has been on the ground in New England since 1985 – working to expand support for farms and farmland from Maine to Rhode Island.

Our Working Lands Alliance is the only organization of its kind in Connecticut, bringing allies together to protect the Nutmeg State's most important resource – its farmland.

Through large-scale collaboration, we are working toward a future where New England farmers produce at least half of the region's food supply, farmland is protected, and no one goes hungry.

AFT's

Pioneering "cost of community services" studies helped more than 150 communities make the case for farmland protection
Planning for Agriculture guides in Massachusetts and Connecticut give officials and citizens the tools to save farms and farmland
Farmland Advisors Program trains land trusts and agricultural professionals on how to help farmers transfer their land or access it
Working Lands Alliance campaigns have generated more than $70 million for Connecticut's Farmland Preservation Program

We are making a difference. Join us.