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January 2002 farmland preservation report
<br />Page 7
<br />uses on preserved farms the task
<br />force finalized last year; another bill
<br />will create staggered deadlines for
<br />applications in an attempt to re-
<br />duce time to settlement; a fourth
<br />bill would increase the penalty for
<br />Premature withdrawal from agricul-
<br />tural assessment; and last, a bill to
<br />discourage acreage exclusions
<br />from agricultural district applica-
<br />tions, allowing the board to reject .
<br />applications based on the degree
<br />to which adjacent development on
<br />excluded lands will affect the re-
<br />maining portion. Maryland has a
<br />90 -day legislative session.
<br />In Michigan... The state program's
<br />only funding comes from the repay-
<br />ment of tax credits from termination
<br />of Farmland Development Rights
<br />Agreements, which generates
<br />about $2.5 million annually. The
<br />fund has to build up $5 million be-
<br />fore funds can be spent, and may
<br />have two years to go. Currently, 56
<br />easements have been completed,
<br />comprising 13,600 acres. The next
<br />Ultimate Farmland Preservation
<br />Tour is slated for April 4-8.
<br />In New Jersey ... The state has
<br />86,720 acres acres preserved on
<br />635 farms, with between $50 mil-
<br />lion and $80 million to spend annu-
<br />ally.
<br />In Utah ... The Governor's Office
<br />of Planning and Budget reports
<br />that 9,400 acres have been pre-
<br />served with conservation ease -
<br />ments,with $2 million annually.
<br />In Illinois ... The state's first and
<br />only local PDR program, in Kane
<br />County, hopes to soon complete its
<br />first deal --a fee purchase of a
<br />farm. Its $5 million fund allows for
<br />fee and easement purchase.
<br />In California ... Ventura County
<br />voters will vote in March on crea-
<br />tion of an open space. The district
<br />would allow a tax increase for fund-
<br />ing of easements and fee purchase
<br />for farmland and parks.
<br />Lake County will try to stem loss
<br />of its pear orchards, which have
<br />been suffering from low wholesale
<br />prices. The county conservation
<br />district will apply for funding and
<br />has applicants ready. The state
<br />program ha- 6aved 13,500 acres in
<br />12 counties in the last five years.
<br />In West Virginia ... The legislature
<br />will consider two bills that would
<br />enable qualifying localities to use
<br />techniques such as TDR and to
<br />increase the local transfer tax to
<br />pay for PDR programs. The bills
<br />were submitted by Jefferson
<br />County, adjacent to Maryland's
<br />Washington County.
<br />healthy farming economy generates more than $50 million a year in
<br />gross sales, and where more than 100,000 acres are in farm use. These
<br />counties need to preserve a minimum of 20,000 acres, and preferably
<br />double that number, as well as adopt adequately restrictive zoning, to
<br />assure a future where new development occurs away from ag areas.
<br />Currently, only 16 of these counties have reached or exceeded the
<br />20,000 -acre mark, either through a state program or operating a local
<br />program or both. These are the metro counties that have reached the
<br />point where farming, even in the face of rapid growth, is beginning to
<br />look permanent because of farmland preservation and the commitment
<br />of local farmers to stay in farming. That's the tipping point at the local
<br />level.
<br />The tipping point equation can't be made up of just number of
<br />programs generated by federal dollars or local politics. It has to in-
<br />clude the strength and commitment of local agriculture and the success
<br />of a local program's structure and implementation.
<br />professional resources ...
<br />JOB POSTINGS
<br />Catawba Lands Conservancy (NC), Land Protection Coordinator- Ten -
<br />year -old regional land trust with nearly 4,000 protected acres seeks organized,
<br />enthusiastic Land Protection Coordinator. Individual will work closely with land-
<br />owners and their advisors to negotiate and complete land conservation trans-
<br />actions. Additional responsibilities include fundraising for land acquisition and
<br />stewardship projects, field investigations of candidate properties, land steward-
<br />ship activities on protected properties, written reports and public presentations.
<br />Qualifications: bachelor's degree in natural resources, land planning, or related
<br />field; two to three years of experience in land conservation, land planning, or
<br />other related field, preferably with land trust work experience. Must have outgo-
<br />ing, friendly personality; a self - starter; strong written and verbal communication
<br />skills; passion for land conservation and the Conservancy's mission. Salary
<br />commensurate with qualifications and experience. Send resume and cover let-
<br />ter to: Ron M. Altmann, Executive Director, Catawba Lands Conservancy, 105
<br />West Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28202. (posted 114102)
<br />The Nature Conservancy (PA), Conservation Planner /GIS Specialist - The
<br />Nature Conservancy, the world's largest private conservation organization,
<br />seeks a self - motivated Conservation Planner /GIS Specialist to support our
<br />ecoregional and site - planning efforts. This position will compile and analyze
<br />GIS data, including topography, vegetation, hydrology, and land ownership, for
<br />use in land planning and conservation marketing, as well as prepare maps to
<br />inform project teams. Additional responsibilities include sourcing and managing
<br />spatial and-other shared data to staff and partners. Excellent communication
<br />and teamwork skills, knowledge of natural resource data and management
<br />tools, and a familiarity with local geography, conservation issues and organiza-
<br />tions necessary. A Masters degree or BS and three years in related field a
<br />must. Strong computer skills--'MS Office, ArcView required. To apply, send
<br />resume and cover letter to Job #GIS, The Nature Conservancy, 1100 E. Hector
<br />St., Ste 470, Conshohocken, PA, 19428. EOE. Visit us at www.nature.org/
<br />careers. (posted 12/21/01)
<br />(Continued on page 8)
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