An assessment of needs and strategies for the preservation of agricultural lands

The purpose of this thesis is to address the issue of agricultural land preservation. There are conflicting opinions regarding the preservation or conversion of agricultural land. Therefore, the need for agricultural land preservation is examined. Programs and strategies for the preservation of agricultural land are discussed. Finally, factors to be considered in the decision to retain or convert farmland are discussed.

Information was gathered in two ways. A search and review of the available literature was conducted. Second, personal contacts were made with planners and/or agricultural economists in the 50 states. Letters were sent to state planning offices in each state; 35 replies were received.

It was found that, while agricultural land is undergoing continued conversion to other uses, this conversion does not appear to represent a serious threat to the production of food and fiber to meet national needs. At state and local levels, however, the need to preserve agricultural land is based upon objectives other than protecting production capabilities. Such objectives might be preserving open space in the form of farmland, controlling urban expansion, or preserving agriculture as a significant economic activity.

Several approaches have been suggested in preserving agricultural land. No single program is likely to work in all situations. In fact, a combination of programs may prove to be the best approach to agricultural land preservation.

Little has been written on the factors to be considered in the decision to retain or convert farmland. The identification and classification of agricultural land is an important initial step in selecting land to be included in a preservation program. Characteristics of the land itself, characteristics of the landowner, and characteristics of the surrounding area are all important inputs into the decision to retain or convert farmland.

Approaching the agricultural land preservation issue through the traditional planning process can address the many conflicts in balancing agricultural land use needs with other land uses. The result could be a clarification of goals, collecting and analyzing data on land uses, considering alternative strategies in agricultural land preservation, and establishing criteria for the decision to preserve or retain farmland. The planning process can accommodate the changing needs for land for a variety of uses.