Advocate
Farm Bill Working Group
The Land Trust Alliance Farm Bill Working Group is an advisory body comprised of land trust practitioners who participate in Farm Bill programs.
Established during the 2018 Farm Bill negotiations, approximately 20 working group members provided first-hand insights that helped the Alliance successfully advocate for top land trust community priorities. These included an increase in funding for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program to $450 million per year, removing the Agricultural Land Easement plan requirement, and allowing landowner donation and expenses to satisfy match requirements.
Farm Bill practitioners
During the past few years, the Farm Bill Working Group has expanded to more than 110 land trust practitioners. The group serves as a forum for discussion and information sharing regarding Farm Bill conservation programs, provides on-the-ground examples and insights on program implementation, and helps formulate Farm Bill policy recommendations in support of land trust community objectives.
Roles and responsibilities
The working group played an important role in the development of the Alliance’s comments on the ACEP and Regional Conservation Partnership Program interim and final rules developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. In addition, members have participated in issue-specific working groups with Alliance and Natural Resources Conservation Service staff to strengthen understanding and seek opportunities to streamline ALE program participation.
Join the Farm Bill working group
The Farm Bill Working Group is managed by the Alliance Senior Director of Government Relations Lori Faeth and Manager for NRCS Programs Nikki Nesbary.
Land trust practitioners interested in joining the group can email Nikki at nnesbary@lta.org.
