Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Planning for Agriculture --the Land that Sustains Us
American Planning Association - ILNormal, Illinois
September 22, 2010
Anita [email protected]
American Farmland Trust?
National nonprofit public policy organization
Founded in 1980 by farmers and conservationists
Mission: to help farmers and ranchers protect their land, produce a healthier environment and build successful communities
We Keep Losing Farmland
Our Best Farmland Is Most Threatened
Sprawl consumes 1 million acres of farmland every year That’s 2 acres every minute of every day
We’re losing our best quality farmland fastest We already need 13 million more acres of
fruit and vegetables to meet dietary guidelines
We Keep Losing Farmers
It’s not farmland….
without farmers.
We’re Farming on the Edge
What is so different about farming in a transitioning urban edge environment?
Farming on the Edge
Farmers in urban edge communities face pressures from development
May disinvest in their enterprises due to perceived impermanence of agriculture
May find their operations becoming fragmented by development
Compromised drainage Reduced maneuverability and
transportation
Farming on the Edge
Farmers facing development pressure often have a hard time holding on to the land they have been farming
The land is worth significantly more than their business enterprise
Land costs (taxes and mortgages) may prevent purchases of land or competitive rents
Landowners have no or limited options other than to sell because their land is their retirement plan
New Residents Don’t “Get” Farming
Ex-urbanites may want the view but not the commercial realities of agriculture Noise, dust, odors, slow moving vehicles
They complain, vandalize and sue ... But with the right conditions, can adapt to
these pressures
Planning for Agriculture
VIABLE & SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTUREMaintain
Community’s Culture
Protect the Land Base
EnvironmentalStewardship
AG EconomicDevelopment
Transition to Next Generation
Tools of the Trade: Local Incentives
Agricultural districts (voluntary)
Purchase of development rights (PDR)
Transfer of development rights (TDR)
Current Use Taxation
Nuisance protections – Right to Farm
Ag economic development
Conservation programs
Tools of the Trade: Development Regs
Urban growth boundaries / service areas Agricultural protection zoning Cluster development/conservation zoning
to buffer new developments Public infrastructure location / funding
(roads, sewer, water …) Standards for farm labor housing
Tools of the Trade: Ag Development
Staffed ag economic development office Farmers markets – on farm direct marketing
– Buy Local campaigns Investments in local farm and food system
infrastructure (logistics) Farmer training programs Ag commissions/councils/
Planning for Agriculture
Where to start?
Know what you have
Know what you want
Much of Our Food Grows in Urbanizing Areas
Voters in urban edge communities value farming
Quality of life
Scenic amenities
Sense of place
Community appreciation of farms
Tourist appreciation
Rural Amenities
Ecosystem Services
Wildlife habitat: food and cover Carbon sequestration Water quality:
erosion control storm water
management floodplains groundwater
recharge wastewater filters wellhead
protection
Research Findings
Surveyed farm operator-owners were more likely to express a bright or modest future for agriculture in their community if they:
•had a succession plan for ownership and management in place
•were at least moderately satisfied with their market profitability and competitiveness
•believed local government was even-handed in farmer/non-farmer conflicts
Farm operators in several studied counties indicated supply of labor is a factor in shaping their expectation about “farming in the county 10 years from now”:
Farmer more likely to stay in farming if sufficient:
seasonal labor
year-round labor
family labor
agriculture labor
Supply of Labor
Owners tended to be more positive about the future of agriculture in their county 20 years into the future if they considered the following public policies effective:
Basing property tax assessments on agricultural use rather than real estate market value
Right-to-farm legislation for protecting farmers from unfair nuisance complaints
Local government zoning to slow the conversion of agricultural land
Public purchase of development rights to agricultural land
Effectiveness of Public Policies
Local Programs - Zoning
“The future for agriculture in DeKalb County is bright – as long as we keep our zoning in place that we have now, and make sure that the growth population comes in a structured manner, adjacent to the urban centers, and that we don’t allow housing to be built scattered all over the county on small parcels…..”
Local Programs - Markets
“Our customers are demanding locally grown eggs, cheeses and meats. We would like to offer them for sale, but complying with the county health dept is a challenge – because of the refrigeration requirements. The state would allow them, but [our] county does not because it currently requires a weekly re-certification of a licensed truck refrigeration. If this regulation could be changed to accommodate our farmers it could help our market a great deal.
Director of a local farmers market in an Illinois County
How We Work
Ensure a transparent process Actively engage communities Really listen to farmers Conduct research on:
Cost of community services Ag and demographic trends Land use conditions Policy framework
Focus on the community
but bring national perspective
We Find Ways to Create Balance
…between needs for growth and development with conservation and ag economic development Combining development “in the right places” with
protection of green infrastructure: working lands, natural areas and open space
Addressing economic and environmental issues related to working lands – especially farmland
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Located 40 miles west of Philadelphia ~ 500,000 population
60 municipalities: Largest = Lancaster City Smallest = Christiana Borough
Lancaster County Background
Too urban to receive USDA rural development funding
Famous for “Plain Sect” communities: Amish mostly and Mennonites
On World Monument Watch List of 100 most endangered historical and cultural sites due to development pressures
High Quality Agricultural Soils
County Soils 50% Prime 25%
Statewide Important
Farming is the Leading Economic Activity
63% of the land base
20% of County jobs
11% of the County’s economic output
County Development Patterns
26% of Lancaster County is developed
45% of development is inside Growth Areas
55% is outside original Growth Areas
Recent Development Trends
From 1994-2002
~ 18,000 new housing units constructed
76% were built inside Urban Growth Areas
BUT
The 24% of units built outside of UGAs consumed 60% of the land developed
Smart Growth Framework
Agricultural Strategy
Integral to the Growth Management Update
More than land use or landscape
Local ag economic development was key
Smart Growth Toolbox
Limit major public investments to UGAs Apply a variety of land use regulations
Mixed-use zoning in urban growth areas Agricultural protection zoning in farming areas Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)
Investment Programs Make grants to reinvest in older urban areas Purchase development rights on farmland
Agricultural Development Comprehensive agriculture viability element “Green Infrastructure” component to protect
natural resources and open space
County/Township Collaboration
Major Elements Included: Funding for PDR Reduce scattered development with zoning County support for township TDR Agricultural economic development
The Key Was: Plan for Agriculture
It takes farmer and community involvement
And a comprehensive plan that addresses: Land Labor Logistics Local Policies
To sustain agriculture in urbanizing areas
Planning for Agriculture
Protecting farmland is critical, but we can’t stop there….
local farmland local farm operations
ANDlocal farmers
AFT Can Help
Farmland Information Center
www.farmlandinfo.org
(800) 370 – 4879
Sign up for AFT’s free e-newsletters www.farmland.org
Thank You !
