The New York Agricultural Stewardship Program at American Farmland Trust leads on-farm research, provides conservation technical assistance and delivers educational programming that promotes regenerative farming across New York state. In partnership with farmers, universities, and conservation professionals, we help farmers and farmland owners adopt conservation practices that improve farm viability, enhance water quality, and help ensure responsible stewardship of New York’s natural resources. In recent years, our team has grown in capacity, partnerships, and services provided to New York farmers. This report highlights our Program’s impact and notable achievements from the expansion of our Demonstration Farm Network and new on-farm research trials to the launch of our conservation technical assistance program, and bolstered efforts to train farmers, agricultural service providers, and build community. Together, we have led advanced soil health trainings, Learning Circles, peer-to-peer farmer meetings, gathered and synthesized on farm demonstration trial data from across the network, and coordinated a range of outreach efforts—including educational materials and field days—reaching over 4,830 farmers, Ag Service Providers, policy makers and researchers to date. Looking back, this year highlights the impact of collaboration, hands-on learning, and farmer-driven research in building resilient, productive farms. The progress we’ve made lays a strong foundation for continued innovation and shared success in the year ahead.
Meet the Ag Stewardship Team
The Agricultural Stewardship Team at American Farmland Trust has grown in recent years to broaden our reach and support of New York farmers, with the addition of Caitlin Tucker (2023), Ben Roosa (2024), and Maria Lucero (2024). Caitlin and Ben bring valuable agricultural and conservation experience, expanding the team’s technical assistance capacity and ability to support on-farm research throughout western and central New York. Their expertise and regional presence enhance the team’s reach, responsiveness, and overall impact in working with farmers and landowners. Maria strengthens the team’s education and storytelling efforts statewide, helping AFT to engage with stakeholders in creative and engaging ways. Stephanie Castle, AFT’s New York Women for the Land Program Manager plays a key role in ensuring these efforts are inclusive by partnering with the Agricultural Stewardship Team to engage underserved audiences, particularly women farmers and landowners, through the Women for the Land initiative. Together, this expanded team is increasing AFT’s ability to deliver impactful, equity-driven agricultural conservation programming across New York.
Impact at a Glance
Our Team Supported 18 Demonstration Farms Across New York Stewarding 54,175 Total Acres of Farmland
89 farmers received direct conservation technical assistance, including guidance on implementing conservation practices and accessing NRCS conservation programs
Hosted 20 Ag Stewardship Events with over 900 Participants
Awarded $44,818 in Micro-grant Funding to New York Farmers to Support Regenerative Agriculture
Expanding the New York Demonstration Farm Network
American Farmland Trust (AFT) launched the Genesee River Demonstration Farm Network in 2017 in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to highlight real-world examples of soil health practices on working farms. Since then, the Network has grown into a farmer-led model for peer-to-peer learning, showcasing how conservation practices can improve farm profitability, resilience, and environmental outcomes. Building on that success, AFT has recently expanded the Network to reach a broader range of farm types and geographies. In 2025, AFT added four new farms to our Demonstration Farm Network representing small-acreage, diversified vegetable and livestock operations across Western and Central New York. These additions bring greater representation of beginning, limited-resource, and women farmers, and extend the Network beyond the Genesee River Watershed into the Cattaraugus-Chautauqua and Naples Creek Watersheds. Our new farm partners include, Oatka Creek Farm (LeRoy, Genesee County), Schenk Homestead Farm (Naples, Ontario County, Dirt Rich Farm (Springville, Erie County), and Plato Dale Farm (Arcade, Wyoming County.) With AFT support, these farms are trialing innovative equipment and conservation techniques that improve soil health, nutrient management, and water quality while strengthening a statewide, farmer-to-farmer learning network.
On-Farm Research
Conquering Cover Crop Challenges in New York
Cover crops provide numerous ecosystem services from increasing organic matter, suppressing weeds, breaking pest and disease cycles, adding fertility to the soil, supporting soil biology and more. Planting green is an advanced cover cropping practice, in which cash crops are planted directly into a living cover crop, that is often terminated by herbicide or through the use of a roller-crimper. This practice may lead to even more benefits as a result of delayed termination of the cover crop, such as improved water management in the spring, water conservation in the summer, weed suppression, and more. However, this practice has not been studied extensively in Western New York. With funding from the USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant Program, American Farmland Trust has quantitatively evaluated the performance of planting green in western New York over a period of five consecutive years on nine demonstration farms.
“I have participated in both soil health case studies and now the Planting Green trials. A lot of the things AFT is working on aligns with a lot of the ideas of where I want our farm to be as far as being progressive and helping with sustaining or rebuilding our soil and climate change. This fits well with my generation in what we are trying to do to adapt to the changing climate and also free ourselves from chemical outputs.”
Adaptive Nutrient Management in Corn with Cornell University
This project, coordinated in partnership with Cornell University and the NY Corn and Soybean Growers Association, tests whether digital agronomy tools can help farmers more easily and confidently experiment with nitrogen management and cover crops in corn production. By collecting, organizing, and analyzing farm data, these tools aim to improve on-farm decision-making and reduce farmer risk. We are currently engaged with two demonstration farms experimenting with N management following cover crops to assist Cornell with building a comprehensive database to support both individual farm insights and cross-farm trend analysis. From the on-farm data and farmer insights, the team will evaluate whether using digital tools helps farmers learn more effectively from their experiments compared to their usual approach.
Biochar at AFT
Our team is partnering with eight NYS farms to explore the use of biochar as a soil amendment. Biochar is a high-carbon material created through a process called pyrolysis which involves high heat and low oxygen. Biochar is an ancient technology – often associated with the terra preta soils of the central Amazon which were transformed by pre-Columbian indigenous communities from innately poor soils into dark, fertile soils that still exist today. In recent years, there has been growing interest in biochar and its potential to sequester carbon long term while benefiting a wide range of soil characteristics including water holding capacity, nutrient retention, structure and microbial communities, as well as crop yields. These trials are part of a nationwide project led by AFT focused on “Breaking Down Barriers to Biochar Adoption.” In New York we worked with each of the farms to design a research trial to fit with their operation and goals. Soil health metrics, crop yields, and other environmental and economic factors will be tracked throughout the 5-year study and shared through various case study reports and field days. We hope that this project will help provide farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to feel confident in deciding if and how to incorporate biochar on their own farms.
Conservation Technical Assistance
American Farmland Trust (AFT), in partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has expanded its technical assistance efforts across New York State to better serve underserved farmers, including socially disadvantaged, limited-resource, beginning, and veteran producers as well as non-farming landowners. These groups often lack conservation plans, or face financial and technical barriers that prevent them from accessing available programs. To address these challenges, AFT is providing free, one-on-one technical assistance to help farmers and landowners plan, implement, and sustain conservation practices that align with their conservation goals and promote farm viability. To meet this growing need, AFT brought on two new agricultural stewardship staff located in Western and Central New York. Caitlin Tucker and Ben Roosa work directly with farmers to assess natural resource concerns, recommend best management practices, and develop individualized conservation plans. AFT also offers hands-on implementation support and guidance in navigating state and federal financial assistance programs like EQIP. By building capacity through outreach, mentoring, and education, AFT is empowering a broader, more diverse group of producers to adopt conservation strategies that improve soil and water health, enhance wildlife habitat, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of New York’s agricultural landscape.
Advanced Soil Health Training Recap
New York Agricultural Stewardship recently conducted the Advanced Soil Health Training (ASHT) program, sponsored by the USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant, led by Truterra/Land O’Lakes. This training was tailored for corn, soybean, wheat, cotton, and dairy farmers, as well as farm advisors who are committed to improving soil health and sharing their expertise with clients, communities, and the next generation of farmers. The hands-on curriculum blended classroom instruction with field visits to innovative local demonstration farms, allowing participants to see soil health practices in action. We engaged 24 participants from across New York and New Jersey, representing a diverse range of farms and technical service providers. Throughout the training, we fostered peer-to-peer learning and built networks that encouraged participants to learn from one another. Site visits included several farms as well as the Cornell University Soil Health Lab, offering a deeper look into cutting-edge research and practices. In total, over 30 soil health professionals led the training sessions, supported by 22+ soil health affiliates, creating a rich and collaborative learning environment.
“These trainings help to expand my knowledge base on these topics just so I can provide better technical service to the farmers that I serve.” Savannah Shelnutt, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Outreach and Events
The New York Agricultural Stewardship team significantly expanded its reach and impact through storytelling, education, and farmer-centered learning. Over the years, the team produced 23 videos showcasing on‑farm practices and farmer experiences, while eight news articles in Morning AgClips and other publications helped amplify key messages to a wider agricultural audience. AFT and our partners generated 10 additional stories and reports, highlighting innovative approaches to soil health, water conservation, and resilient farm management. To further elevate farmer voices, we developed 11 in‑depth case studies featuring producers across the state who are leading by example. Our outreach extended into the field as well, with 10 public field days and field walks that have brought farmers, technical service providers, and community members together to learn directly from each other and on‑farm demonstrations.
Farmer Profile: Schenk Homestead Farm
Schenk Homestead Farm is nestled atop the rolling hills of Naples, NY. Amanda and Jeremiah Grisa farm year-round on 4 acres with six high tunnels. Schenk Homestead Farm is part the New York Demonstration Farm Network in partnership with NRCS working to suppress weeds on their farm and reduce labor. The Schenk’s value community and that shows in everything they do, from the food they grow and how the engage with other farmers. In 2025 they hosted a Learning Circle and welcomed 15 women that represented 1,429 acres of New York farmland. Jeremiah and Amanda walked participants through their water and weed challenges, offering helpful mulching and composting tips. Still, the crowd favorite was the Sumi Soaker. Amanda shares, “I think it’s important to be transparent in the everyday running of the farm, whether it's the good, bad, the technical, or the personal experiences of farming,” Amanda said. “We’re a profitable farm that supports our family and employees. And it’s just as valuable for us to hear what’s working—or not working—for other farms in the network.”
AFT's Brighter Future Fund
American Farmland Trust’s Brighter Future Fund provides small but impactful grants to farmers, especially beginning, socially disadvantaged, and limited-resource producers, to adopt regenerative practices that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term farm viability. In 2024, AFT awarded a total of $44,818 to six New York farms, directly supporting conservation efforts on over 200 acres. This funding, made possible through an environmental benefit payment and in partnership with Riverkeeper and the Sierra Club, enabled farmers to invest in tools and infrastructure like manure spreaders, cover cropping equipment, rotational grazing systems, and stream protection fencing practices that directly reduce runoff, build soil organic matter, and improve water quality.
Thank You for Your Support!
Our progress is rooted in the farmers, partners, and supporters who show up, share their knowledge, and push innovation forward. American Farmland Trust and the New York Ag Stewardship team is proud to walk alongside you as we continue nurturing healthy soil, thriving communities, and a more resilient food system. Here’s to another year of learning and growing together! The work represented in this impact report was supported by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Agreement 00E02807-0, USDA-NRCS Agreements NR232C31XXXXC005, NR233A750018C004, and NR233A750011G029 and carried out in partnership with, Cornell University, New York Soil Health, NY Carbon, New York NRCS, New York Association of Conservation Districts, New York Farm Viability Institute, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association and more.