Conversations in Conservation
For Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT), conservation starts with conversation. A farmer shares the obstacles they face, and LFT listens, ready to help as stewards of the land. For LFT’s Conservation Program Manager Michael Kelchner, those conversations are at the heart of his work. Today, we’re sitting down with Michael to talk about what it really takes to help farmers protect their land and clean local waterways.
LFT’s Connection to Conservation
When LFT was first founded, conservation education and implementation were a far cry from where they are now. Often, Lancaster farmers were not involved in conservation discussions or aware of funding opportunities. Now, thanks to outreach, education, and LFT’s emphasis on growing the Conservation Program, farmers and partners alike are more enthusiastic than ever about getting involved in conservation, now understanding that while conservation cleans the Chesapeake Bay, it can also improve farm production. Healthy, well-maintained conservation practices save farmers time, improve crop production, and help to keep animals safe. However, many landowners struggle to find the time, labor, and funding to implement the conservation practices necessary to benefit their farm and help clean local waterways. That’s where LFT comes in.
When a farmer preserves their farm with LFT, they are connected to programs, funds, and partners ready and willing to help them make clean water improvements on their farm.
“When we preserve a farm, we are tied to that land forever,” notes Michael. “While preserving farmland is our core mission, we feel that it’s our responsibility as stewards to ensure that our farms are contributing to Lancaster County’s conservation efforts and are as healthy as possible.”
As one of the biggest contributors to pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, Lancaster County has worked hard over the past decade to reduce pollution runoff into local waterways.
“When we meet with a farmer, the first step is to answer three questions: what are you doing now, what is needed, and how will we get there together?”
After assessing a farmer’s needs and goals, LFT staff members, like Michael, connect landowners to funding to begin conservation planning, BMP design and implementation.
LFT’s Impact in 2026
Three of the biggest concerns in conservation are waste management, rainwater management, and erosion management. Before 2026, LFT’s conservation projects totaled 50 in the organization’s history. In this year alone, LFT and partners have completed 17 BMP implementation projects that address these resource concerns. These projects include new waste management facilities, roofing, gutters, heavy-use area protection, animal trails and walkways, stream crossings, fencing, and more. Practices such as these keep animals and their pollutants out of streams, prevent runoff after heavy rains, and lower pollutant runoff into waterways
The completion of these projects is no small feat, but LFT’s conservation work isn’t slowing down. Today, LFT and partners are hard at work on 30 more ongoing projects. In the next year, another 20 management plans will be completed.
Finding Funding: LFT’s Link
One of Lancaster’s farmers’ biggest concerns in implementing conservation practices is cost. BMP design, construction, and maintenance can rack up quite a bill, one that farmers often can’t afford.
“We are finding the funds for best management practices as well as helping farmers implement those funds. You can really see a direct result of the work we’re doing. It’s super rewarding,” says Michael.
It takes a village to complete 17 major conservation projects, from funders to partners alike. We want to thank our funders for making this accomplishment possible, including the Lancaster County Conservation District, the Campbell Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the State Conservation Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program. We also want to thank our partners in this endeavor for their help and dedication, including Lancaster Clean Water Partners, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Stroud, Trees for Graziers, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
At the end of the day, LFT’s goal is teamwork.
“I want landowners to look at us and think of us as trusted partners. We want them to tell others that conservation practices are a good thing to do and that they, too, can benefit from it. For our farmers, they have our help for as long as they have an easement, which is forever.”
A clean and healthy Chesapeake Bay is possible, but it’s only possible if all of us – farmers, supporters, and partners – work together. Together, we can save the farms, water, and soil we love.
Want to learn more about what BMPs are and other commonly used LFT terms? Click here.
