Join us for a day of conversations and presentations on farmland access, farmland stewardship, and farm transitions. This event will bring together retiring farmers (and mid-career farmers), farmland seekers, and non-operating farmland owners. We will explore topics including cooperative farming and land access, conservation and environmental stewardship, legal considerations, and equitable land access. We’ll work through key questions including:
• How can landowners steward their land for economic, environmental, and social good while strengthening local and regional food systems?
• How do young farmers find and afford farmland?
• How can leases be structured for long-term agroforestry projects?
• What steps can retiring farmers take to plan for the future of their farm and transition their land to the next generation of farmers?
• How can cooperative land access and cooperative farming help address the challenges of land access and farmland affordability in the Ithaca area?
We’ll hear from farmers and landowners who have successfully addressed these key questions, as well as from experts from across the state. Come be part of the conversation and the solution. Dive deep into specific strategies and make lasting connections that will help our community provide affordable farmland access for a new generation of farmers. This event is brought to you with generous funding from the American Farmland Trust, and in close partnership with Khuba International and Groundswell Center for Local Food and Farming.