Integrating Agriculture into the Landscape

Guiding Principle:

Preserving land alone is not enough. Local and state governments also must preserve the conditions that allow the land to be used profitably for agriculture.

Points to Keep in Mind:

The conversion of agricultural land is a complex process. It involves such factors as farm profitability, urban growth pressures, land values, personal decisions about work and retirement, community expectations, taxes and government programs, incentives and regulations. When investing in urban growth investors begin buying land for its development potential. New farmers soon cannot afford farms and fewer farmers are ... able to increase their holdings. At some point the process becomes irreversible and farm after farm is subdivided and developed. Communities that wish to [retain] their agricultural lands must start early in the process to change the expectations of farmers, investors and developers. Although some conversion is essential for economic progress, too often it is the best land which is pushed out of production, with little thought to the consequent environmental, economic, and social impacts ...

Also:

It may help to clarify what needs to be done if the focus was shifted from preserving land, to preserving farmers.

Challenge:

Integrate agriculture into the landscape as a vital part of society's infrastructure and quality of life.

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