Women are entering agriculture as new farmers, widows and inheritors of farmland in unprecedented numbers. Women own or co-own and operate about a third of the nation’s farm land. Many more acres are in the hands of women who are “non-operators” but lease their land to neighboring farmers.   To address this major shift in land ownership, American Farmland Trust is engaging women landowners through “conservation learning circles”—a well-tested approach that brings local groups of women landowners together for facilitated discussions attended by female conservation professionals.  The participants’ questions and interests drive the conversation as the technical staff educate the women landowners about best practices and available resources in soil and water conservation.