Peconic Land Trust

About the Organization

The Peconic Land Trust conserves Long Island’s working farms, natural lands, and heritage for our communities in the protection of land through conservation planning, the acquisition of land, development rights, and conservation easements through gift and purchase, as well as the stewardship of protected land.  Peconic Land Trust has completed more than 500 public and private conservation projects, resulting in the protection of more than 14,000 acres of land on Long Island.

The Farms for the Future Initiative, launched in 2008, addresses critical challenges facing new and established farmers, including high land costs, limited infrastructure, and access barriers. Through farmland leasing, an incubator program, support for historically underserved farmers, regenerative agriculture education, and affordable farm housing, the Trust creates pathways for the next generation of farmers.

Regional Navigator Services 

We provide technical assistance to beginning and established farmers, farmland owners, and agricultural stakeholders navigating farmland access, leasing, ownership, and conservation. On Long Island, farmers face high land costs, limited available acreage, and a shortage of farmland with essential infrastructure such as irrigation, deer fencing, and housing. We help farm seekers identify opportunities, understand lease structures and rates, explore financing options, and navigate pathways from leasing to ownership.

For landowners, we provide guidance on leasing farmland, conservation easements, Agricultural Assessment Program enrollment, and compliance requirements. We also assist landowners in identifying qualified farmers to meet affirmative farming requirements and keep conserved land in active agricultural production.

Through established relationships across Long Island and expanding outreach to historically and currently marginalized farmers, including non-English-speaking communities, we facilitate connections between landowners and farmers, reduce barriers to access, and support successful farmland transitions.

Our services are complemented by in-person, hands-on, and virtual trainings, community education, and professional development programs. Farmers seeking land, financing, or business support, and landowners interested in leasing, conserving, or transferring farmland, are encouraged to contact us to discuss available resources and opportunities.

Reach out to us for support in the following areas: 

• Consultation or Mediation
• Farm Business Planning or Marketing
• Farm Financing
• Farmland Protection
• Finding and Evaluating Farmland
• Farmland Lease Development
• Farm Transfer and Estate Planning