Land trust professionals, farmland preservation boards and other conservation professionals are invited to a one-day training session on Affordable Farmland Protection Strategies October 10 in Pittsburgh hosted by the Western PA Conservancy.

This full-day, in-depth training is focused on innovative tools that land trusts, farmland preservation boards, and other land access leaders can use to help farmers gain secure, affordable access to land.

This training is part of a series of trainings that the National Young Farmers Coalition has held around the country geared towards conservation professionals who are committed to exploring, or have already begun to incorporate, strategies for protecting economically viable working farms and keeping farmers on the land in their work.

The curriculum is focused on the use of enhanced agricultural easements and shared-equity land ownership, and will feature presentations from NYFC, Equity Trust, farmers, and land conservation professionals from around the country.

The training is designed with local partners to address the particular needs and challenges of Pennsylvania farmers, but all are welcome.

The agenda Includes:

-- Overview of farmer land access challenges [NYFC & Margaret Schlass (One Woman Farm)]

-- Achieving an affordable purchase price with easement restrictions [Equity Trust, Columbia Land Conservancy, Vermont Land Trust]

-- Achieving affordable land access with split equity ownership or long-term lease [Equity Trust, Columbia Land Conservancy]

-- Legal considerations for this work [national perspective from Rick Monk, general counsel to American Farmland Trust / Pennsylvania perspective from Steve Schiffman, outside general counsel to Western PA Conservancy]

-- Breakout sessions featuring time for audience questions

The workshop will be held at the Mattress Factory Museum, 500 Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Click Here to register or for more information.  There is a $25 registration fee.

More information is available on programs, initiatives and special events at the Western PA Conservancy website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy, Like them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, add them to your Circle on Google+, join them on Instagram, visit the Conservancy’s YouTube Channel or add them to your network on Linkedin.  Click Here to support their work.

NewsClips:

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Podcast: Chris Hennessey, Back Country Hunters & Anglers On Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund

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[Posted: Sept. 12, 2018]

9/17/2018