David Haight

Vice President for Programs, American Farmland Trust

Session: Land Use Change: What do we know and where are we heading?

David has served as American Farmland Trust (AFT) Vice President for Programs since 2018, working to elevate the impact of AFT’s eight regional programs in protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land in 25 states.  He also leads AFT’s national Farm Viability and Smart Solar Programs.

He previously served as AFT’s New York Regional Director where he helped educate farmers, build the capacity of land trusts, and expand public funding that resulted in the permanent protection of 100,000 acres of farmland.  David also oversaw major initiatives to help farmers protect healthy soil and clean water in the Long Island Sound and Great Lakes watersheds, scaled-up sales of local food to schools and institutions, and established one of the most successful programs in the nation to help a new generation of farmers find land. 

David and his wife, Suzanne, own Balet Flowers & Design, a farm which produces high quality plants and flowers and offers gardenscaping services in the Saratoga region of New York. David earned a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies and political science from Binghamton University and a Master of Science in natural resources planning from the University of Vermont. He is also a graduate of Cornell University’s LEAD New York program.