Jim Oldham, Executive Director of Equity Trust, will participate in two panel presentations at Farmland, Food and Livable Communities, American Farmland Trust’s National Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, October 20-22, 2014.
The first session will cover Land Access and Securing Affordable Farmland with Kathy Ruhf, Executive Director, Land for Good and Equity Trust Board member (moderator); Jim Oldham, Executive Director, Equity Trust, Massachusetts; Jon Ramsay, Land Access Director, Vermont Land Trust; and Holly Rippon-Butler, Land Access Campaign Manager, National Young Farmers Coalition.
Access to land is one of the top challenges for beginning as well as established farmers. How can we make farmland more available, affordable, secure, and findable? What tenure innovations should be promoted? Presenters will cover new models and methods, and explore the role of landowners, retiring farmers, conservation organizations and communities.
The second session with look at How Permanent Protection Opens the Door to Farm Ownership with Bob Wagner, Senior Policy and Program Advisor, American Farmland Trust (moderator); Anne Bradley, Agricultural Liaison/Land Preservation Administrator, Frederick County, Maryland; Rick Chandler, Director of Agricultural Business Training Program and Land Protection Regional Planner, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources; Jim Oldham, Executive Director, Equity Trust, Massachusetts; and Austin Short, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Delaware.
Learn how public agricultural conservation easement programs are helping farmers gain access to land. Featured programs will include the Delaware Young Farmers Farmland Purchase and Preservation Loan Program, Maryland’s Critical Farms Program, and Equity Trust’s Hudson Valley Farm Affordability Program and Massachusetts’ Option to Purchase at Ag Value.