Every day 2,000 acres of agricultural land are paved over, fragmented, or converted to uses that jeopardize farming. Within the next 15 years, 40% of farmland ownership will be in transition, putting both family farmers and the land they steward at risk. Meanwhile, would-be farmers often can’t afford to enter the field and are out-competed for agricultural land by developers and investors intent on converting the land into something more profitable than a family farm.

Over half of this land is owned by women, but they face considerable barriers in protecting their farmland and connecting to the next generation of farmers. Here in western New York, AFT is working to bring these women together through open dialogues about working lands, hands-on experiences, and connecting local service providers to the women they serve. We help address questions you might have when considering conservation options for your land. Open to all women involved with New York agriculture, AFT invites you to join us for a discussion on farmland preservation and land access, hosted by our newest woman-led Demonstration Farm, Wild Hill.

For those who cannot attend the in-person farm tour, we will have a virtual meeting covering the same topics later in July (date and time TBD).

Facilitators: Stephanie Castle, AFT

Erin Bullock, Owner, Wild Hill Farm

Deanna Gentner, Ag Economic Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension

Amanda Grisa, Farmland Protection Specialist, Genesee Land Trust

REGISTER HERE