Level: Experienced

Position Type: Full Time

Location: Hybrid • Lexington, KY - Lexington, KY 40502

Remote Type: Hybrid  

Salary Range: $70,000.00 - $75,000.00 Salary/year

Who We Are

American Farmland Trust (AFT) is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect nearly 8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families. Long a pioneering leader, AFT continues to evolve to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers nationwide, adapting its approach to ensure the continued strength and resilience of agriculture and rural communities nationwide.

Job purpose

Through a Pilot Umbrella Agreement (PUA) partnership with the Kentucky Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Kentucky based Southeast Engagement and Support Specialist helps farmers, landowners, and other program participants to increase familiarity and understanding of Farm Bill Conservation Programs and practices; and to facilitate program participation and practice adoption.

Position Summary

The Kentucky based Southeast Engagement and Support Specialist will build and strengthen relationships with farmers/landowners in Kentucky. They will engage with farmers to increase understanding, access to conservation programs and adoption of conservation practices and assist with overcoming any impediments to participation and implementation. The ideal outcome will be farmers/landowners who are well prepared and comfortable moving to the next steps in the conservation planning and Farm Bill program application processes. This position is currently funded for a two-year term. However, AFT is committed to the long-term success of this work and will actively pursue additional funding opportunities to support continued employment whenever possible.

Duties and responsibilities

Work to foster improved and expanded relationships between AFT, NRCS, conservation partners and wide-ranging agricultural audiences, building mutual trust and understanding and facilitating open dialogue.

• Partner with stakeholders and producers to build trust, understanding and transparency regarding conservation planning, land protection, and programmatic processes.
• Seek to identify and understand public concerns, misconceptions, impediments, etc. and provide feedback, analysis, and potential solutions which can lead to greater awareness of NRCS and other financial and technical assistance, and increased submission of eligible applications.

Assist NRCS in identifying farmers and landowners who may be unfamiliar with or have limited experience participating in USDA-NRCS programs and/or practice implementation; and developing a strategy to engage these audiences.

• Assist NRCS with the development of publications, talking points, presentations and other materials to target the varied needs and priorities of NRCS clients around the state of Kentucky.
• Assist NRCS with provision of farmer engagement opportunities to explain NRCS programs and priorities, the conservation planning process and purpose, and practices relevant to the target audience.
• Assist community-based organizations, RC&D Councils, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and others with the activities to promote and encourage participation in NRCS programs.

As needed, assist AFT with engaging farmers and landowners in Kentucky to identify the needs, experiences, and desired outcomes for farms.

• Work with AFT Southeast Regional staff and partners to develop and disseminate surveys, host focus groups, and interview farmers to collect relevant data
• Support data analysis and program development
• Assist with hosting of workshops and events for farmers and landowner. Provide pre-application/pre-planning and at-risk technical assistance to current and potential program participant farmers and landowners.

Provide detailed explanations of the program application and conservation planning processes, program eligibility and FSA eligibility. Assist with eligibility documentation/certification and serve as liaison with USDA and partner agencies.

• Provide detailed explanations of the program application and conservation planning processes, program eligibility and FSA eligibility. Assist with eligibility documentation/certification and serve as liaison with USDA and partner agencies.
• As needed work with producers to identify problems and opportunities and determine preliminary objectives, begin inventory of resources (steps 1 through 3 of the conservation planning process) and facilitate transition to field office staff for continued technical support.
• When applicable, assist NRCS with providing targeted intervention for clients who may need additional support to implement planned practices (e.g. difficulty securing contractors, approaching deadlines, contract modification needed, etc.). Work with these farmers to identify impediments to project completion and assist in securing the appropriate support to achieve a resolution.
• Develop and compile extensive notes on all interactions with farmers and landowners for documentation in the producer’s file.

Attend meetings and training with AFT, NRCS and other partners for professional development and to learn, gather data, and record information.
Maintain records of work accomplishments for reports related to all agricultural programs and assistance.

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities. Management reserves the right to revise the job or to request other or different duties be performed as assigned.

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PI281221558