America’s Roots Run Through Its Farms
Farm Security Initiative White Paper
This white paper (v2.6 Public) presents a nonpartisan framework to keep farmland in family hands and protect the independence of American agriculture. It introduces a suite of sample bills addressing land security, farm succession, rural capital, cooperative development, infrastructure, and resilience — practical tools that can be debated, adapted, and enacted at state or federal levels.
The goal is not theory but action: to spark conversation, invite feedback, and provide policymakers and communities with credible, farmer-focused solutions. These proposals build on real examples already working across the country and offer a path to scale them, ensuring that farmland remains in the hands of those who steward it.
OUR OUTREACH
Building a National Conversation
The Farm Security Initiative has moved its proposals beyond the page and into the public square. Every state Democratic and Republican Party chair along with national farm and conservation NGOs, women-in-agriculture networks, farmer cooperatives and rural advocacy organizations, have now received multiple rounds of outreach—beginning with White Paper v1.4, followed by the launch of the Farm Security Initiative website, and continuing through the current White Paper v2.6.
Direct engagement is ongoing with state and national stakeholders, including the Office of the Governor of Minnesota, Regeneration International, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and the Women, Food and Agriculture Network. FSI has received positive responses from candidates and policymakers across multiple states—including North Dakota, Utah, Montana, North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, and Nebraska—reflecting broad, bipartisan interest in strengthening rural ownership and land security.
The tone of these exchanges has been grounded and pragmatic. Stakeholders consistently recognize the urgency of farmland loss and the value of concrete, ready-to-use policy tools. As outreach continues, FSI’s role remains the same: provide clear legislation and precedent, elevate rural voices, and support leaders — regardless of party — committed to keeping American farmland in family and community hands.
Highlights
Multiple rounds of outreach to all 50 state Democratic and Republican Party chairs, beginning with White Paper v1.4 and followed by the launch of farmsecurityinitiative.org and ongoing updates to the White Paper.
Targeted outreach to more than two dozen national NGOs and advocacy networks, including American Farmland Trust, National Family Farm Coalition, Land Trust Alliance, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Regeneration International, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and multiple women-in-agriculture organizations.
Positive responses from NGOs, including expressions of interest, invitations to follow up and early discussions about alignment with FSI’s focus on land security and family ownership.
Engagement with political candidates and campaigns in multiple states, including North Dakota, Utah, Montana, North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, and Nebraska.
Multiple campaigns and state party offices have responded by reviewing the white paper, circulating it internally, and initiating constructive follow-up conversations.