Farmland for a New Generation New York Regional Navigators provide training and on-the-ground customized support for farmers and landowners in the region throughout New York.
Name: Taylor Wilkie
Organization: Genesee Valley Conservancy
Title: Land Conservationist
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Where in New York State do you work?
The Genesee Valley Conservancy is a not-for-profit land trust that serves the western part of New York State throughout the Genesee River Watershed. The Genesee River flows from northern Pennsylvania to Lake Ontario, creating a drainage basin that is rich with productive soils and similarly, a strong agricultural heritage.
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What brought you to this work? What is your connection to agriculture?
Despite growing up on a small dairy farm, if you had asked me on my first day as a college student if I had any interest working within the agricultural industry someday, the answer would have been a firm no. Agriculture in my community was everywhere, everyone either knew a farmer, was related to a farmer, or was a farmer. Then, in college, I realized that “the norm” in my community was actually the exception in most—very few of my peers even knew a farmer. Current generations are increasingly disconnected from the source of their food and the care that went into cultivating it. This knowledge gap, along with the disparities in access to locally grown products, inspired me to pursue career opportunities that would allow me to support local food systems and producers, educate and engage community members around agriculture, and conserve the fertile land base that nurtures us.
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What is your area of expertise? In what ways do you typically work with farmers and farmland owners?
In my primary role at the Conservancy, I work with private farmland owners and operators to permanently protect their farmland with a perpetual conservation easement, which effectively conveys their non-agricultural development rights to us to limit or extinguish by means of a purchase. In our work as a Navigator, we’re going a step further to support farmers in critical decision-making moments when considering transitions to more regenerative agricultural practices or succession planning for the farmland and operation.
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Can you give an example of one farmer or farmland owner you are currently working with, the challenges they are facing, and how you are helping them work through those challenges?
We’re working with a farm family that is currently in a transitional phase of their operation. With no clear heirs to continue the farm operation, they are interested in permanently protecting their farmland from non-agricultural development to ensure their farmland continues to boast scenic rural beauty and remain viable for future agricultural production. In addition to a conservation easement, the farmers are dedicated to creating a thoughtful succession plan, as well as bolstering the productivity and overall quality of their farmland. To support this process, we have had numerous discussions with all of the family members regarding farmland protection and are moving very slowly to ensure all of the needs of the family and farm operation are properly addressed for a meaningful, effective project. In addition, we hosted a succession planning workshop for farm families in partnership with a local attorney, which we highly encouraged the family to attend. Fortunately, they contacted the workshop presenter to meet and kick off their tailored succession plan. To address their soil concerns, we supported their adoption of a conservation plan with the local Soil and Water Conservation District, in order to directly address any areas of concern on their property that are diminishing agricultural productivity.
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What is one piece of advice you have for farmers seeking land or farmland owners hoping to keep their land in farming?
While every situation poses uniquely different challenges, there are so many resources available. Whether it be potential funding opportunities, educational workshops, or peer support, there are organizations, agencies, and networks that strive every day to provide the connections and information necessary to take that next step in keeping your farmland in agricultural production. Your regional Navigator is a great first step, but don’t forget about Natural Resources Conservation Services, Farm Service Agency, farm lending agencies, Extension offices, and non-profit agricultural organizations, like land trusts.
