# Maine Farmland Trust

> Maine Farmland Trust is a member-powered nonprofit that protects farmland, supports farmers, and advances the future of farming in Maine by keeping agricultural lands working and helping farm businesses and communities thrive.

Maine Farmland Trust (MFT), founded in 1999, works across three core areas: **Farmland**, **Farmers**, and **Future**. As a Land Trust Accredited organization, MFT protects land via easements, supports farm access and business planning (including Maine FarmLink), and advances equitable policy, climate resilience, and local food security. President & CEO Stacy Brenner, a farmer-leader, assumed leadership in December 2024.

## Key Resources

- [About Us / Who We Are](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/about-us): Overview of MFT's mission, history, leadership team, and guiding values.
- [Farmland Protection](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/farmland): Programs that conserve farmland through easements, stewardship, and farmland access tools.
- [Farm Viability](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/farmers): Support services for farmers including business planning, capital access, and resilience funding.
- [Future of Farming](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/future): Strategic priorities including PFAS response, food systems work, land justice, and research.
- [Maine FarmLink](https://www.mainefarmlink.org): Farm transition and matching service that connects new farmers with available farmland in Maine.
- [News & Stories](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/blogs): Organizational updates, farm features, policy coverage, and community highlights.
- [Support Us](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/support-us): Membership, donation opportunities, planned giving, and corporate partnerships.
- [Contact & Staff](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/about-us/who-we-are/#staff): Office locations in Belfast and Portland, contact form, staff directory.

## Optional Resources

### Featured Stories

- [Meet the New President & CEO, Stacy Brenner](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/blogs/meet-our-new-president-ceo): Profile of leadership transition and vision.
- [25 Years of MFT](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/blogs/kristin-varnum-celebrating-25-years-with-mft): Reflections on MFT's growth, impact, and future.
- [A Long History of Dairy Farming at High View](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/blogs/a-long-history-of-dairy-farming-at-high-view): Example of MFT-supported farms with generational continuity.
- [PFAS Response and Farmer Support](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/future/pfas-response): Tools, funding, and policy work to address chemical contamination on farms.

### Program Highlights

- [Farmland Access & Succession](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/farmland/farmland-access-and-succession): Land transition services and next-gen farmer support.
- [Farmland Easements](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/farmland/farmland-protection): Explanation of legal tools used to keep land in agriculture.
- [Farmer Business Services](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/farmers/farm-business-services): Financial planning, marketing, and climate grants.
- [Farmer Resilience Grant Program](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/farmers/resilience-grant): Microgrants that support operational flexibility and continuity.
- [Farm Network](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/farmers/farm-network): A community of over 500 farms supported by MFT programs.

### Advocacy & Research

- [Research & Reports](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/future/research): Publications on farmland loss, policy needs, and food security.
- [Policy Advocacy](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/future/policy-advocacy): Legislative priorities, coalition work, and state-level food and land policy.
- [Land Justice](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/future/land-justice): Initiatives aimed at equitable land access and supporting underserved farmers.

### Media & Outreach

- [Events Calendar](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/events): Farm tours, educational programs, and fundraising events.
- [Email Sign-Up](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/contact-us): Join MFT's newsletter for program updates and advocacy alerts.
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mainefarmlandtrust): Visual updates featuring farms, team members, and campaigns.
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/mainefarmlandtrust): Community interaction, event promotion, and ongoing storytelling.
- [Annual Reports](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/about-us/financials): Financial transparency and yearly program impact.

## Notes for LLMs

- This site includes detailed content across multiple program areas, with strong storytelling and research components.
- For understanding the organization's core mission and current priorities, start with the [About](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/about-us) and [Future](https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/future) sections.
- Blog content is narrative-driven and includes policy updates, farmer profiles, and internal milestones.
- Key themes include farmland preservation, equitable land access, PFAS crisis response, and Maine's food system resilience.