American Farmland Trust has begun accepting applications to help farmers improve farm viability, access, transfer, or permanently protect farmland, or adopt regenerative agricultural practices. Called the National Grant for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers, it makes up to $5,000 available for growers.
The grant application can be accessed here, and the last day to submit them is July 8.
The Brighter Future Fund was launched in 2020 to assist farmers in launching, growing, and sustaining farms in the face of forces impacting the food and agricultural system, including the COVID-19 pandemic, changing markets, severe weather, and climate change. Today, the grant focuses its support on beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, women, and veteran farmers and ranchers to support greater equity and opportunities for all in agriculture.
The impact of Brighter Future Fund grants extends beyond individual awardees. Grants help drive new solutions for resolving key challenges facing our society by:
- Scaling up the adoption of soil-improving farming practices and increasing the resilience of farms to climate change;
- Strengthening local food systems to be more resilient to disruptions caused by global events as well as providing equitable access to healthy food;
- Creating greater equity in opportunities for historically underserved farmers;
- Ensuring the availability of sufficient clean water and habitat for threatened wildlife;
- Improving long-term farm viability and community vitality.
American Farmland Trust, with the support of Tillamook and corporate partners like Applegate, Butcher Box, Domino’s, iHeartMedia, Giant Food, major donors, and individual members, has provided approximately $5 million in grants directly to more than 2,000 farmers in 53 states and territories for pandemic relief, increased resilience, land access, and enhanced viability.
In 2024, the grant program will continue to fund farmers and ranchers nationwide, with additional support available to those affected by the Smokehouse Creek Wildfire in Texas, as well as expanded support in New York and New England.
“These grants don’t just impact the lives of farmers and ranchers throughout the country; their inspiring stories reveal a ripple effect, enriching their families and entire communities,” said Ashley Brucker, American Farmland Trust’s Agriculture Conservation Innovation Deputy Director.
Since its founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families.
