By Emeran Irby
American Farmland Trust (AFT) awarded $2,820,250 in grants to 208 farmers and ranchers across the country through its 2025 Brighter Future Fund programs. Of the recipients, 113 are beginning farmers, underscoring AFT’s commitment to support the next generation of agricultural stewards and to ensure a more resilient, equitable food system.
Now in its fifth year, the Brighter Future Fund continues to help fund producers working to strengthen on-farm resilience, enhance soil health, plan for long-term viability, and grow climate-smart local food systems. In 2025, AFT funded a range of targeted initiatives, including the Regenerate Virginia Healthy Soils Grant, Regenerate Virginia Farm Vitality Planning Grant, New England Regenerative Livestock Farming Grant, Great Lakes Farm Navigator Program, and Emergency Resilience Grant, among others.