Explore
the Issue

El acceso a la tierra es el reto número uno al que se enfrenta la próxima generación de agricultores en Estados Unidos, y esta barrera es aún mayor para les agricultores de color. Como coalición de agricultores y administradores/guardianes de tierras, el acceso equitativo a la tierra es nuestra principal prioridad. Según nuestra Encuesta Nacional…

Access to land is the number one challenge facing the next generation of farmers in the United States, and this barrier is even greater for farmers of color. As a coalition of growers and land stewards, equitable access to land is our top priority. According to our 2022 National Young Farmer Survey, 59% of young…

Beginning Farmer Tax Credit programs address issues of farmland access and transition simultaneously helping both beginning farmers and an aging generation of farmers planning for retirement or transitioning out of farming. States including Minnesota and Pennsylvania have implemented such tax credits for the sale or rental of farmland or assets (including land, livestock, buildings, and…

By pursuing comprehensive, statewide and regional land use planning, states can limit development on agricultural soils and create legal and regulatory policies that support the success of young farmers and support the viability of regional foodsheds. Background The average age of U.S. farmers is approaching 60 years, and is increasing with every Census, meaning that…

No explanatory text New York Planning for Agriculture Grants: The Farmland Protection Planning Grants program provides municipalities and counties with grants to enhance farmland protection effots. Planning grants are available to municipalities (cities, towns, and villages) focusing on how to protect agricultural lands through municipal zoning, land use, and subdivision regulations. County planning grants are…

The effects of farm policy have left our country vulnerable. Land, water, other natural resources, and labor have been consistently devalued throughout U.S. agricultural policy history, creating an unjust food system in which much of the work farmers do to enrich the land goes uncompensated. Corporate control and influence over agricultural operations and policy in…

Background Farmland is a highly desirable asset for more than just agriculture. As developers, investors, technology companies, and individuals looking for a rural residence all compete with farmers for acreage, the cost of land is steadily becoming disconnected from its value for agricultural production. This trend is strongest around urban areas, precisely where the most…

In a 2017 survey conducted by the National Young Farmers Coalition, 15% of young farmer respondents reported using FSA farm ownership loans. Yet barriers in outreach, eligibility, and program execution still keep many young and BIPOC farmers an arms reach from the federal funds that help create viable land tenure. This is on a top…

Many states have different versions of “current use taxes”—property tax breaks for landowners of farmland that is kept in active production. These can be an important structure.

Urban agriculture is critically important, not only for food production but for community building, civic engagement, conservation, education, employment, and providing pathways to farming as well. Ensuring urban land remains available and accessible for farming will require policy change, investment in publicly-supported programs, increased technical and legal support, and zoning reform. Berkeley Edible Gardens:The Berkeley…