AFT Throws Support Behind The Ag Resilience Act

The American Farmland Trust is throwing their support behind the Agriculture Resilience Act introduced by Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. AFT Policy Director Tim Fink said the legislation meets all three goals of the organization’s mission but does so in a voluntary form.

“For one thing it actually increases investment in a federal program that focuses on farmland protection. That’s one of the ways it directly helps us. The second thing is enabling farmers to engage in these practices, helping support them is the type of thing that’s going to make their operations more viable into the future.”

There are also incentives in the legislation to pass the land down through generations like providing relief on capital gains. Fink called the bill the most comprehensive piece of legislation on agriculture and climate in his mind.

“This legislation sets a bold goal of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2040. More important, it provides a clear science-based, farmer-driven, and voluntary path to realizing that goal.” 

House Bill 2803 was recently referred to the Ag Committee.

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