The Ag Land Trust holds over 60 easements in Monterey, San Mateo, and San Benito counties. Although our mission is to preserve the prime agricultural lands of the Salinas Valley, we will also consider easement projects located outside of Monterey County.

Property owners who put their land under easement are interested in protecting the land for future generations, protecting their families’ agricultural businesses, and protecting habitat. They want to rest assured that someone will monitor their properties to see that they are used according to their wishes into the future.

There are other benefits including Federal Income Tax deductions, reduced Estate Tax liability, or, in some cases, property tax advantages. These benefits can help families pass down lands to heirs in situations where they might otherwise have to be sold to pay estate taxes.

The Ag Land Trust has collaborated on easement projects with other non-profits, corporations, city and county governments, as well as individual property owners.
Protected properties range in size from a few acres to over several thousand acres.