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AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST
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<br />FARMLAND INFORMATION CENTEP
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<br />FAM�IAND INFORMATION CENTER
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<br />FACT
<br />SHEET
<br />WHY SAVE
<br />FARMLAND?
<br />Amazcan Famdand Trust
<br />TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
<br />One Short Street, Suite 2
<br />Northampton, MA 01060
<br />Tel: (413) 586 -4593
<br />Fax: (413) 586-9332
<br />Web: www.farmiandinfo.org
<br />NATIONAL OFFICE
<br />1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 800
<br />Washington, DC 20036
<br />Tel: (202) 331 -7300
<br />Fax: (202) 659 -8339
<br />Web: www.farmiand.org
<br />AMERICA'S AGRICULTURAL LAND
<br />IS AT RISK
<br />Fertile soils take thousands of years to devel-
<br />op. Creating them takes a combination of
<br />climate, geology, biology and good luck. So
<br />far, no one has found a way to manufacture
<br />them. Thus, productive agricultural land is a
<br />finite and irreplaceable natural resource.
<br />America's agricultural land provides the nation
<br />—and world —with an unparalleled abundance
<br />of food and fiber products. The dominant role
<br />of U.S. agriculture in the global economy has
<br />been likened to OPEC's in the field of energy.
<br />The food and farming system is important to
<br />the balance of trade and the employment of
<br />nearly 23 million people. Across the country,
<br />farmland supports the economic base of many
<br />rural and suburban communities.
<br />Agricultural land also supplies products with
<br />little market value, but enormous cultural and
<br />ecological importance. Some are more immedi-
<br />ate, such as social heritage, scenic views, open
<br />space and community character. Long -range
<br />environmental benefits include wildlife habitat,
<br />clean air and water, flood control, ground-
<br />water recharge and carbon sequestration.
<br />Yet despite its importance to individual com-
<br />munities, the nation and the world, American
<br />farmland is at risk. It is imperiled by poorly
<br />planned development, especially in urban -
<br />influenced areas, and by the complex forces
<br />driving conversion. USDA's Economic
<br />Research Service reported that about 1,800 of
<br />the nation's 3,141 counties and county equiva-
<br />lents are "urban- influenced." 1 Many of these
<br />are important links in the American food
<br />chain. In 1997, farms in these urban -influ-
<br />enced counties produced 79 percent of dairy
<br />products, 90 percent of fruit, and 83 percent
<br />of vegetables.
<br />According to USDA's National Resources
<br />Inventory (NRI), from 1992 to 1997 more
<br />than 11 million acres of rural land were con-
<br />verted to developed use —and more than half
<br />of that conversion was agricultural land. In
<br />that period, an average of more than 1 million
<br />agricultural acres were developed each year.
<br />And the rate is increasing —up S1 percent
<br />from the rate reported in the previous decade
<br />Agricultural land is desirable for building
<br />because it tends to be flat, well drained and
<br />generally is more affordable to developers
<br />than to farmers and ranchers. Far more farm-
<br />land is being converted than is necessary to
<br />provide housing for a growing population.
<br />Over the past 20 years, the acreage per per-
<br />son for new housing almost doubled! Most
<br />of this land is outside of existing urban areas.
<br />Since 1994, lots of 10 to 22 acres accounted
<br />for SS percent of the growth in housing area.:
<br />The NRI shows that the best agricultural soil:
<br />are being developed fastest.
<br />THE FOOD AND FARMING SYSTEM
<br />The U.S, food and farming system contribute:
<br />nearly $1 trillion to the national economy —
<br />or more than 13 percent of the gross domes-
<br />tic product —and employs 17 percent of the
<br />labor force.' With a rapidly increasing world
<br />population and expanding global markets,
<br />saving American farmland is a prudent
<br />investment in world food supply and eco-
<br />nomic opportunity.
<br />Asian and Latin American countries are the
<br />most significant consumers of U.S. agricultur-
<br />al exports. Latin America, including Mexico,
<br />purchases an average of about $10.6 billion
<br />of U.S. agricultural exports each year. Asian
<br />countries purchase an average of $23.6 bil-
<br />lion/year, with Japan alone accounting for
<br />about $10 billion/year.' Even as worldwide
<br />demand for a more diverse diet increases,
<br />many countries are paving their arable land
<br />to support rapidly expanding economies.
<br />Important customers today, they are expected
<br />to purchase more agricultural products in the
<br />future.
<br />While domestic food shortages are unlikely in
<br />the short term, the U.S. Census predicts the
<br />population will grow by 42 percent in the
<br />next SO years. Many developing nations
<br />already are concerned about food security.
<br />May 2002
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