APB agenda 032101 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Page 4 11 Cohn said that the Massachusetts PDR program, called APR, is one of oldest in the country. "We talked to seventy -five farmers who participated in that program ten years later, and asked them what happened, what did you do with the money, and what are you doing now. It was encouraging to see the farms were still operating." Discussion continued regarding the need for different tools available to fit different situations to initiate participation in the VAD program. Other topics discussed: if the county uses tax dollars to buy open space or farmland and should PDR and TDR programs have a regulatory process to ensure that the program is used as intended. Ranells asked what else was going on in the state level. Cohn reported that at the state level the question of future funding for farmland preservation trust agencies is being considered. The Grange talked about it at the summit and that they are looking for a dedicated funding source. "It's good to start asking questions; it alerts legislators to begin looking at agriculture preservation as if it is something to invest in for the long run." Kentucky recently received forty -five million dollars for farmland preservation that came out of the tobacco fund. Kentucky has been funded at about the same level as North Carolina has for the last few years. South Carolina does not have a state PDR program, there is one in legislature now which may get voted in but they are in the same kind of budget situation as we are. Tennessee doesn't have a state income tax so they are not looking too good. "One of the nice things I saw was in Georgia. Farmers pushing for an application forced the state to develop ranking criteria, and develop a farmland protection program in order to be eligible for federal dollars." Strayhorn asked if the AFT was involved in promoting forestry. Cohn noted that we're getting more interested in forestry particularly in the southeast as it is important for a lot of farms in this part of the country. The negative publicity associated with cutting trees in this county has people are afraid to commit to forestry because they're afraid that when the trees mature they won't be able to harvest them, Strayhorn noted. Maybe the APB could recommend the promotion of forestry for the VAD program. Forestry is a great opportunity for people with other occupations to hold onto their land and generate some type of income, particularly if the owner isn't physically able to work it. It would be better to plant in trees for harvest than to sell the land. Cohn noted that public education is a good opportunity to let people know that trees are a valuable resource, replanting is a good agriculture and economic use of the land. We've been trying to promote the idea of multiple benefits of farmland throughout the country including the loss of food supply to Americans. Unfortunately, consumers can buy produce cheaper than they ever have with a wider variety so they think we don't need to protect farmland. The price of food is just one small piece of the puzzle. We need to keep emphasizing the idea of buying locally grown products, rural heritage, the whole biological economy -- including water quality, wildlife habitat. We should also begin forming alliances with hunter and wildlife Draft 2/21/2001 4