Local farmland is disappearing fast. In San Mateo County alone, we have lost 46% of our farmland since the 1980s. If it continues at this rate, there will soon be none left. At POST, we are working to reverse this trend for the benefit of us all. It’s a complex challenge that will involve a combination of land acquisition, legal land protection and strategic investments in farmland infrastructure. After over four decades of protecting land, POST is well equipped to take on this challenge, and we hope you will join us.
Farmland Stories
The Goals
Our FFI campaign goal is to raise $25M to fund farmland protection ($24M) and infrastructure improvements ($1M). To date, POST has raised $16M, 64% of our goal. We are incredibly grateful to the supporters who have helped to launch this campaign.
To make a gift to support our Farmland program, email Tonya Treble.
Where We Work
How We Do It
POST uses a time-tested methodology for evaluating lands for acquisition and protection. For FFI, we have adapted our traditional evaluation criteria to prioritize agricultural values. Once we’ve done our analysis, we work with willing landowners to purchase the land or to preserve it with legal protections called “conservation easements.” Easements allow the land to stay in agricultural production while removing the threat of development and protecting the natural resources.
On the lands we own, we provide long-term leases to farmers and invest in land improvement projects that are crucial to a viable farming operation. The combination of land preservation, a reliable lease and infrastructure that works ensures that we achieve the conservation outcomes that we all want to see.