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 | April 3, 2008 | | Welcome to the April All-Staff edition of our monthly E-news, featuring the latest on farm and ranch land protection, environmentally and economically sustainable agriculture, planning for agriculture, local food and more. New York New York State Budget Negotiations Underway The New York State Senate and Assembly budget proposals advanced in March demonstrate strong support for agricultural programs funded by the Environmental Protection Fund. Both houses of the legislature also supported the addition of six staff at the Department of Agriculture and Markets—some of these staff members are expected to work on the department’s farmland protection program. However, with an estimated $4 billion budget deficit facing New York, we need to keep the pressure on. Take action and tell senators, assembly members and Governor Paterson about the importance of maintaining strong support for programs that protect farmland and help farmers steward our natural resources. New York Town of Amherst Celebrates 700 Acres of Protected Farmland  On March 14th, the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, celebrated the permanent protection of 178 acres of valuable farmland. Don and Dan Spoth of Donald Spoth Farms and Rick and Karen Vilonen of Ben Brook Farm recently protected 129 acres and 49 acres, respectively.The town of Amherst and the Western New York Land Conservancy now co-hold agricultural conservation easements on a total of 716 acres of farmland in Amherst.
“This land will always be available for local farmers to grow agricultural products,” said Diane Held, New York Field Representative for American Farmland Trust. “Both families can sell this land to other farmers or family members at agricultural value rather than at the high development prices of much of the land in the town.” Representatives from the offices of Congressman Thomas Reynolds, State Senator Mary Lou Rath and State Senator Antoine Thompson attended the celebration along with county and town officials. Western New York farmers and vendors showcased locally grown foods at the event, many of which are sold at the Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers’ Market. The event reinforced the need to protect farmland as the foundation of a sustainable local food system.
New York State Open Space Plan Poised for an Update New York's Open Space Conservation Plan serves as a blueprint for the state's land conservation efforts. Historically, the plan has included a limited emphasis on farmland protection. However, as the plan is updated over the next year, there will be an important opportunity to strengthen its farmland protection components. Local feedback can help to highlight locally important agricultural regions or policies that could strengthen the state’s farmland protection efforts, help raise awareness of the importance of agriculture in the plan and build support for increased state funding for farmland protection. Contact your regional DEC representative information on how to provide input (PDF).
Mid-Atlantic Virginia Releases State Money for Agricultural Conservation Easements
 Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced the distribution of $4,250,002 to 14 Virginia localities to preserve farmland through local purchase of development rights (PDR) programs. Calling it a historic step, the governor said the funds will benefit Virginia’s farmers, local economies, and the environment. Former AFT Staff member and current program coordinator of Virginia’s Office of Farmland Preservation, Kevin Schmidt, will make disbursements to Albemarle, Clark, Fauquier, Goochland, Isle of Wight, James City, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, Stafford County, Frederick County, Rappahannock, New Kent County, Cumberland County and Northampton County. According to Schmidt, “Virginia localities have done a tremendous job up to now using their own funding and some federal assistance. It is very gratifying to work with them to bring state matching dollars into the mix.” Schmidt hopes that the state match may encourage new localities to establish PDR programs, joining the 21 that already operate.
Southeast Gates County of North Carolina Rallies Against the OLF
 Gates County is 150 miles east of Raleigh, but 75 local citizens made the trek on March 13th to hold a rally in front of the governor’s office to urge the Navy not to build an Outlying Landing Field (OLF) in their community. The OLF, previously proposed for Washington County, would allow Super Hornet jets to practice touch down and take off landings, bringing noise and restrictions on farming activities, but without the economic development opportunities that come with full military bases. AFT’s Southeast States Director Gerry Cohn spoke at the rally, outlining the burden that would be placed on the local farm sector with the loss of land and restrictions on grain crops that attract migratory birds that might interfere with plane traffic. In particular, Cohn listed the 15 local businesses supported by Miller Farms, a 200-year-old family farming operation that leases land from 22 families, all of whom would be negatively impacted by the proposed OLF site. Support the citizens of Gates County against the OLF!
Ohio Ohio's Lake County Studies Highlight Value of Agriculture
American Farmland Trust was at the center of a meeting in Lake County last month that underscored the economic importance of agriculture. The Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District hosted a meeting on March 20th that could be a model for any Ohio County. The meeting was designed to educate people about the value of farmland as a land use (an American Farmland Trust Cost of Community Services study) and the economic importance of agriculture (an OSU Extension economic-impact study of the Northeast Ohio grape and wine industry).
Washington Unanimous Support for Washington's Passage of Farm Ecosystem Services Bill  Governor Gregoire recently signed an AFT supported bill into law that will result in new ecosystem services markets for farm and forest landowners. SB 6805 provides a working lands-focused, cost-saving approach for addressing clean water and wildlife habitat challenges while also potentially improving the performance of existing environmental mitigation and restoration programs. AFT led the introduction and a broad coalition in support for the bill that passed unanimously through both houses and retained its funding despite a very tight budget.
New England Consideration for State Conservation Tax Credits in Connecticut and Massachussetts With tax time just around the corner, legislators in Connecticut and Massachusetts are considering the use of conservation tax credits to encourage land protection. While it won't help on this year's returns, legislation in both states (Connecticut: House Bill 5137) (PDF) (Massachusetts: House Bill 799) (PDF) would make landowners who make a donation or a partial gift of a conservation easement on farm or forest land in the future eligible for a tax credit worth 50 percent of the value of the donation. Already adopted in 11 states, the concept of state conservation tax credits (PDF) is gaining ground as an additional tool in the land protection portfolio. "Agricultural Day" Celebrations in Connecticut and Massachussetts
 AFT "No Farms, No Food" lapel stickers were in strong demand recently in the Connecticut State Capitol and Massachusetts State House. Offered to participants at "Agriculture Day" celebrations in both states, the stickers and their slogan resonated with farmers, agriculture advocates and state legislators in attendance. In Connecticut, one of the legislature's leading farmland protection advocates, Senator and President Pro Tempore Don Williams, met with AFT's Working Lands Alliance Project Director Jiff Martin. In Massachusetts, Representative Dennis Guyer used the slogan in a speech to “Ag Day” participants, noting that “No Farms, No Food” says it all.
Main Stories Capturing the Cover  When an issue is on a cover, it’s top of mind! AFT staff working in Lancaster County, PA, hosted editor Joe Link on visits with farmers who have struggled with the question: "Should I sell my land or protect it? And how?" The result of Link’s trip was the March Progressive Farmer cover story, “Saving Our Farmland.” Dwight Hess, Gene Garber and Mike Brubaker all told their stories in hopes of helping other farmers chose to protect their land for future generations. AFT’s expertise is highlighted and you can learn about different farmland protection approaches in this updated Farmland Protection Toolbox fact sheet (PDF) at the Farmland Information Center.
Study Explores Whether San Francisco Could Feed Itself from Local Farms Like other American cities, San Francisco residents rely on distant sources of food that travel an average of 1,500 miles to get to their tables. But the city is surrounded by unique agricultural lands, with a mild Mediterranean climate capable of producing nearly every kind of food enjoyed in the Bay Area. AFT's San Francisco Foodshed Study is looking into whether San Francisco residents could feed themselves exclusively from sustainable farms located within 100 miles of the Golden Gate Bridge. The project will result in a strategy to maximize the potential for the city to feed itself locally, while protecting the farmland critical to the San Francisco foodshed. Smart Growth Meets Smart Food Video  Follow the trail of local food (mp4) as it winds its way through rural/urban edge farmland in Virginia to restaurants and customers in Washington DC-metro area. The video highlights the network of relationships and issues that support or threaten the continuing food community connection and the people whose forethought and persistence have enabled this local food network to grow.
Should We Pay Farmers to Help Keep Rivers Cooler, Water Cleaner and Wildlife Habitat Intact?  The state of Washington thinks so. Recently passed legislation, supported by AFT, is aiming to create farm-based conservation markets that “pay” farmers in Washington to address environmental challenges—a growing trend as communities are faced with increasing water treatment and ecological costs. A cost-saving conservation markets program to keep Oregon’s Tualatin River “cool” has farmers committed to planting trees along waterways while farms participating in the Great Miami River Watershed Water Quality Credit Trading program will improve water quality and could save Ohio communities more than $300 million. And an endangered Texas songbird is being protected through “conservation credits” awarded to a ranching family in exchange for ranch management practices that preserve habitat.
Farm Bill Do or Die
During their two-week recess, lawmakers came to agreement on a $10 billion over baseline, 10-year farm bill framework. Under the new framework, conservation programs could secure a $4 billion increase, and it looks like the the Average Crop Revenue program, now named ACRE, is slated for inclusion. However, some Senators remain stalwart against the latest proposal, which cuts crop insurance, direct payments and does not identify funding sources. Funding remains the key to securing White House support, but with the April 18th deadline rapidly approaching, will two weeks be enough time to finish the bill? Around the Country Stop by our exhibit and attend our sessions, Urban-Rural Links in Agricultural Preservation and Farming and Endangered Species, at this year’s American Planning Association (APA) conference, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first pool of carbon credits for rangeland is now available for ranchers in 15 Great Plains and Western states. Virginia releases state money for agricultural conservation easements for the first time.  |
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