GFB News Magazine

Georgia Farmland Conservation Program accepting applications until May 20

by Adam Belflower

Posted on February 28, 2026 8:49 PM

The Georgia Farmland Conservation Program will help preserve farms for future farmers./Photo by Logan Thomas

From the mountains to the coast, Georgia's landscapes boast some of the greatest views in the country making it attractive to tourists, newcomers and Georgians whose families have been here for generations. Our scenic state has nearly 10 million acres of farmland, so it is hard to find a sliver of the horizon that does not touch a family farm. 

Along with its natural beauty, Georgia continues to boast a strong economy, healthy business climate, and robust workforce. These factors combine to foster economic development and job growth putting our state ahead of many regions in the U.S. 

Vibrant cities, new businesses, and large subdivisions need space to grow and resources to draw on to provide for the people that come along with them. Often, open farmland can be the first victim of new development. 

Recognizing the need for a tool to balance the growth of our state with the preservation of our most fertile soils, in 2023, the Georgia General Assembly passed SB 220 to establish the Georgia Farmland Conservation Program. This program allows landowners who place their land into an agricultural conservation easement to receive payment from the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund to help offset the cost of forgoing their development rights. 

Essentially, this tool pays landowners to protect their land from development if they will commit that land to production agriculture forever. The Georgia Farmland Advisory Council, chaired by Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, oversees the program. 

“Georgia farmland is under constant threat,” Harper said. “The Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund will help us fight back by protecting and preserving our state’s farmland into perpetuity. We are looking forward to taking the first round of applications in 2026 and helping Georgia farm families protect their most valuable asset - their land.” 

Georgia Farm Bureau is excited to support the work of the program and fortunate to have President Tom McCall serving as vice chairman of the council. 

“This program will go a long way in preserving family farms for future generations” McCall said. “As farmers, the land we farm is not ours, we are just borrowing it from our children and our grandchildren until they get to farm it one day. That is what this program is about. Ensuring that family farms are still around for our grandchildren.” 

The program is accepting applications for its first cycle until May 20. For more information about the program or to apply, visit https://gfb.ag/gafarmlandconservationprog. The Georgia Department of Agriculture administers the program, and the number of projects awarded will be based on availability of council funds. The Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund can receive funding from federal, state and local governments as well as private donations. 

Adam Belflower is Georgia Farm Bureau’s State Affairs Manager. He may be reached at  acbelflower@gfb.org or 478-474-0679, ext. 5259.