PROTECTING WORKING LAND
Nita McAdams 2018 Shawn Linehan Photography
OAT helps Oregon farmers and ranchers permanently protect their land and keep it in production. Landowners may donate their property or convey a working land easement to remove development rights that interfere with farming. In exchange, landowners can receive a charitable tax credit and/or cash, which can be particularly useful in succession planning or business expansion. Reach out to us to learn more.
AG BUSINESS SUPPORT
Succession planning is essential for passing a farm or ranch to the next generation, and easements can help with this process while preserving the land forever. Not only do farmers and ranchers need information about how to pass on their legacies, but attorneys, accountants, appraisers, the public, and decision makers need information in order to help. OAT partners to educate all Oregonians about why and how to protect our agricultural landscapes.
ADVOCACY
Several federal, state, and local funding programs pay Oregon farmers and ranchers to preserve their lands. From the federal ACEP-ALE program to the Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program, these programs support the public benefits of food security, conservation, open space, and thriving rural economies. Yet program funding is not guaranteed and is usually not enough to meet the demand. OAT supports the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts’ advocacy for legislation and funding that increase working land preservation.
