News
American Farmland Trust, ADM launch effort to support Midwest farmers
The president and CEO of American Farmland Trust says a new partnership with ADM aims to help farmers strengthen resilience in a changing agricultural landscape.
John Piotti tells Brownfield the initiative will have a large focus on succession planning.
“We estimate that upwards of 300 million acres of farmland will be in transition in the next 15 years or so just due to demographic issues, the age of farmers.”
He says it’s critical to provide farmers with direct technical assistance to get ahead of upcoming transitions.
“We’ve really goosed up our efforts to help both existing farmers think about options, and there are many,” he said. “It begins with planning and just thinking about what those options are what steps you need to take.”
The partnership will cover Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, and Missouri. ADM’s $500,000 investment is part of the company’s Farm Forward Initiative, which is a long-term commitment to working alongside American farmers to strengthen resilience.
Piotti says the partnership will also provide connections to production resources and peer networks.
“Maybe it’s a farmer who’s gone through some general planning, maybe it’s a farmer who’s put an easement on their property,” he said. “They are often really good ones to work with other farmers. They talk the same language.”
According to AFT, 315 family farms filed for bankruptcy last year – up 46% from 2024 – and Piotti says long-term investments are needed to help attract the next generation of producers.
AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH JOHN PIOTTI:
How do I find more information on this program by ADM?