who is american farmland trust?
TRANSCRIPT
Who is American Farmland Trust?
Since our founding in 1980, AFT has
helped permanently protect over 6.5
million acres of agricultural lands,
advanced environmentally sound
farming practices on millions of
additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families.
AFT’s Women for the Land ProgramObjectives: Address the obstacles women landowners face in accessing conservation programs and resources. Support women landowners in taking action to protect their farmland, adopt environmentally sound farming practices, and enhance farm viability.
Three key components:• Research (Women Non-operating Landowner Survey)• Conservation Learning Circles• Technical assistance & policy reform
Sustainable Grazing ProjectRappahannock Region
Regional based holistic beef production project in the counties of Rappahannock, Madison, Culpeper, Fauquier and Orange
Evolution of the Project
• Early 2017- AFT was approached by key players in Rappahannock County who were familiar with AFT’s work and wanted to see how AFT could help build the local ag. economy
• 2017- A planning grant was established locally which hired Mike Sands and Molly Peterson to research potential opportunities to improve sustainability
• January 2018- A day long workshop was hosted in Washington, VA where 125 + people attended and AFT’s President John Piotti spoke about the needs and opportunities for agricultural regions like Rappahannock County
Evolution of the Project Cont.
• Summer 2018- Grant proposal was developed to hire a project coordinator to manage a multi year sustainable grazing project
• May 2019- Jacob Gilley was hired to manage the project to include a region of Rappahannock, Madison, Culpeper, Orange and Fauquier Counties
Overarching Project Goals
• Develop new markets• Enhance soil health, sequester carbon, and document the power of regenerative
grazing as part of a broader project• Secure land (both for existing farmers and new farmers entering the business)• Provide other services to assist new farmers• Improve farming practices• Enhance land-use planning that supports agriculture
Rappahannock ProjectFocus
•Supporting implementation ofconservation practices
•Incorporating support for business planningand record keeping in outreach efforts tocapture the economics of sustainablegrazing systems
•Promoting improved cattle productionpractices for increased efficiency, profitabilityand animal welfare
Rappahannock ProjectCont.
• Supporting land accessand protection
• Increasing food systemsinfrastructure
• Supporting agriculturalproduct marketing andmarket access
• Assisting with economicdevelopment, land useplanning and policy
Industry Support and Memberships
• Mountains 2 Bay Grazing Alliance• US Round Table for Sustainable Beef• VA Forage and Grassland Council
US Round Table for Sustainable Beef
• Water resources.• Land resources.• Efficiency and yield.• Animal health and well-being.• Employee safety and well-being.• Air and greenhouse gas
emissions.
Assessment Tool
https://nobleapps.noble.org/usrsbassessment
Project Timeline
FY 19 October November December January February March• 1st blog post onproject goals• Producer
partipant bustour to VA techevent 17th
• Advisorycommittee isestablished
• 8-10 cooperatorsidentified
• Case studyequipmentsecured
• VA tech classpresentation
• Demo plotsestablished
• Planning andrecording keeping demonstration atfield day
• Projectframework docand reporttemplatecompleted
• Blue RidgeCattleman'smeeting
• Initial surveyscompleted
• Productionmanagementsoftware toolsidentified, andfarmers enrolled
• Bring on advisorfor carbonmeasurementprotocol
• Soil sampling forpilot producers
• Fencing Demo• Portable
Watering,Fencing andcattle weighingdemo
• Qrtly producermeeting
• 2nd blog on pilotproducers anddemo sites
• VA Farmlinkwebsiteimprovements
• Establishequipmentsharing forum
• End of the yearupdate report forfunders
• Attend forageand grasslandcouncil wintermeeting
• VA Farmlinkpromotion forpastureland
• Attend Central VA Cattleman'sAssociationwinter meeting
• Attend FB YoungFarmer WinterExpo - jointtraining
• BQA training withVet and highlightrecording keeping
• Qrtly producermeeting
• Help producersdevelop budgetsfor springnutrientapplications andhelp plan pasturemanagementbudget for theyear
• Initial report onevaluation ofmarket andinfrastructureneeds
Timeline Cont.
April May June July August September• Qrtly advisory
committeemeeting
• Exploreformation ofregional beefco-op
• Compileproducerpictures andprofiles
• 3rd blog posthighlightpractices andprogress
• Plant summerannual showcaseplots
• Initiateestablishment ofsharedinfrastructure
• Qrtly producermeeting;
• Graduate studentintern and econadvisor to createcase studies
• Initiateestablishment ofshared marketingif needed
• Qrtly advisorycommitteemeeting
• Summer AnnualGrazing Field Day
• 4th blog posthighlight initialcase studyfindings
• Promotion ofFarmlink for cropproducers
• Organize covercrop grazing subproject
• Qrtly producermeeting
• RappahannockFarm Tour
• Plant winterannual showcaseplot
Further Applied Research Interest
• SubleaseAgreements
• EstablishmentMethods
• Seed Varieties• Cost of Gain• Infrastructure
Investments• Soil Improvements
Budget Allocations
• Technical Assistance to Farmers
( Software)
• Carbon Specialist
• Case Study Design/ Graphic
Services
• Soil Sampling
• Ag Economist
• Marketing Assistance
• VA Farm Link and Land
Access Events
• Cooperator Incentives
• Project Support Equipment
• Workshops / Conferences
• Farm Tours for Restaurants
and Chefs
• Student Contractor to Help
Soil Sample and Work Cattle
Clifton Institute Fencing Demo
Stay Tuff Fence, Stockade, Madison Wood Preservers, AFT, Clifton Institute, Mountains 2 Bay Grazing Alliance
AFT’s Mid-Atlantic Staff
Margot L. Mays
Mid-Atlantic Conservation &
Stewardship Program Manager
Jacob A. Gilley
Rappahannock Project Coordinator
(540) [email protected]