Category Archives: Press Releases

Press Release: 02/09/2009

May 15, 2009

(Elk Grove, CA – February 9, 2009) – The Jorgensen Farm near Gustine in Merced County has been permanently preserved for agricultural production, the Central Valley Farmland Trust announced today. “It is a rare opportunity to be able to preserve a working farm which will contribute to the region’s economy for years to come,” explained Maxwell Norton, President of the Central Valley Farmland Trust.

This historic property is 290 acres of prime farmland producing walnuts, alfalfa, beans and other field crops. The land has been in the Jorgensen family for over 100 years. “Our parents instilled in us a love of the land and an understanding of the need to preserve farmland,” stated Janice Jorgensen. “Our grandparents and parents were committed to farming, and we choose to honor them with this agricultural conservation easement.”

Funding for this project was provided by the California Department of Conservation under its California Farmland Conservancy Program and the Great Valley Center in Modesto. The Central Valley Farmland Trust will hold the agricultural conservation easement, and the Jorgensen family will retain control of the farming operation.

“The Central Valley Farmland Trust is truly honored to be a part of helping preserve the multigenerational heritage of this farm,” stated Bill Martin. “The placement of an agricultural conservation easement on the Jorgensen farm pays fitting tribute to Jacob and Maria Jorgensen, who over 100 years ago developed the farmland and built the historic farmhouse which still proudly stands today.”

-MORE-

The Central Valley Farmland Trust (CVFT) is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation. Its mission is to work with landowners and conservation partners to preserve agricultural lands in Sacramento, San Joaquin Stanislaus and Merced counties. Our board includes farmers and agricultural business professionals with expertise and interest in protecting farmland.

###

For additional information about this topic, please call Bill Martin at (916) 687-3178 or email Bill at bmartin@valleyfarmland.org.

Press Release: 09/22/2010

September 23, 2010

(Elk Grove, CA – September 22, 2010) – The Becker Farm located 2 miles north of the Community of Linden along the Calaveras River in San Joaquin County has been permanently preserved for agricultural production, the Central Valley Farmland Trust announced today. This is the second agricultural conservation easement placed on farmland in San Joaquin County by the Trust.

This highly productive and scenic property is 50 acres of prime farmland currently producing walnuts and cherries. The land has been in orchard production for over 70 years.

Funding for this project was provided by funds specifically set aside for farmland conservation by Raymus Homes of Manteca and the City of Stockton (through its Agricultural Mitigation Program). The Central Valley Farmland Trust will hold the agricultural conservation easement and the Becker family retains full control of the farming operation.

“The opportunity to work with landowners like Garrett & Renee Becker, who understand and appreciate the need to protect one of our most precious resources, truly makes my job enjoyable and most rewarding,” said Bill Martin, Executive Director of the Central Valley Farmland Trust.

-MORE-

The Central Valley Farmland Trust (CVFT) is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation. Its mission is to work with landowners and conservation partners to preserve agricultural lands in Sacramento, San Joaquin Stanislaus and Merced counties. Our board includes farmers and agricultural business professionals with expertise and interest in protecting farmland.

###

For additional information about this topic, please call Bill Martin at (916) 687-3178 or email Bill at bmartin@valleyfarmland.org.

Press Release: 09/23/2008

May 15, 2009

(Elk Grove, CA – September 23, 2008) – The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance (a national organization of land trusts based in Washington, D.C.) recently announced that California’s Central Valley Farmland Trust has been awarded accredited status. The Central Valley Farmland Trust works with farmers in California’s Central Valley to preserve our nation’s most productive farmland.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission presented the award to an inaugural group of 38 land trusts from throughout the United States at the annual Land Trust Alliance conference in Pittsburgh, PA. The Central Valley Farmland Trust is one of only three California land trusts that received this award, and is the only accredited land trust in California’s Central Valley.

“Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever,” said Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn. “The accreditation seal lets the public know that the accredited land trust has undergone an extensive, external review of the governance and management of its organization and the systems and policies it uses to protect land.”

“Central Valley Farmland Trust accredited status demonstrates our commitment to organizational excellence in achieving our goal of protecting the best farmland in California’s Central Valley,” says Bill Martin, Executive Director. “Our land trust is a stronger organization today having gone through the rigorous accreditation program.”

Central Valley Farmland Trust was founded in 2004, and works in Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced Counties. To date the land trust has worked with 19 conservation-minded landowners to protect nearly 11,000 acres of farms in the region.

“The accreditation seal lets the people we work with know that we have the systems in place to ensure the long-term success of our organization and the protection of the most important farmland in the world,” said Bill Martin. “Additionally, it lets our partners know they are working with a land trust that meets the national quality standards for conservation organizations. We are proud to display the accreditation seal.”

-MORE-

The Central Valley Farmland Trust (CVFT) is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation. Our mission is to work with landowners and conservation partners to preserve agricultural lands in Sacramento, San Joaquin Stanislaus and Merced counties. Our board includes farmers and agricultural business professionals with expertise and interest in protecting farmland.

###

For additional information about this topic, please call Bill Martin at (916) 687-3178 or email Bill at bmartin@valleyfarmland.org.

Press Release: 09/27/2010

September 29, 2010

(Elk Grove, CA – September 27, 2010) –Central Valley Farmland Trust (CVFT) is releasing it annual report for the year 2010. The trust’s mission is to save productive farmland in Sacramento, San Joaquin Stanislaus and Merced counties by acquiring and monitoring agriculture conservation easements. The trust currently has easements on 11,224 acres of farmland. For the fifth year in a row, CVFT received an unqualified opinion from its financial auditor. This continues to affirm that the trust is managing it financial affairs at the highest level of fiduciary responsibility. During this past fiscal year, 2009 to 2010, trust assets grew from $3.7 million in to $4.7 million and work continued to acquire 785 acres of additional conservation easements. The growth in fund assets was primarily due to receipt of specifically relegated funds set aside by several different municipalities within the four central valley counties for acquiring additional farmland conservation easements.

During the fiscal year, CVFT volunteers, paid staff and outside consultants accomplished an enormous amount of work on ongoing agricultural conservation easement projects, public policy and outreach, stewardship and monitoring, and overall trust administration. For additional information or to request a copy of this annual report, please call (916) 687-3178. You can also access the report at www.valleyfarmland.org.

-MORE-

The Central Valley Farmland Trust (CVFT) is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation. Our mission is to work with landowners and conservation partners to preserve agricultural lands in Sacramento, San Joaquin Stanislaus and Merced counties. Our board includes farmers and agricultural business professionals with expertise and interest in protecting farmland.

#

For additional information about this topic, please call Bill Martin at (916) 687-3178 or email Bill at bmartin@valleyfarmland.org.

  • news category image

  • Subscribe to e-News

    *





    * required

  • Join Us on Facebook

    CVFT