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L <br /> . . _ � ' • ' / �1i t 1 '1 , . i ^• l '} St , r ` : sr :�,. ✓ " .� �IF <br /> Feld <br /> t. <br /> Fm � !. ' . . , e f �•r • r 'I , i• r ✓ ,r , ! •� i _ ..� j tir rl -j '9 1 '.� `. .rIft <br /> ' <br /> � • ' <br /> 410 ISO <br /> --_ _ _ _ = " � Environmental QualityIndicator : <br /> Mom <br /> am <br /> aam <br /> IF I <br /> Why indicator Tracking the number of acres in farmland is important for several <br /> was selected reasons . Soils suitable for crop production cover only 3 percent of <br /> the earth 's surface . Farms also provide the vast majority of Wake <br /> County ' s remaining forest land , wildlife habitat, and open space . <br /> l <br /> Increased pollution is generally associated with other land uses as <br /> well . Crop values alone account for approximately $ 60 million <br /> worth of revenue to the farmers in Wake County. <br /> How indicator j Data on the number of farmland acres in Wake County was <br /> was measured I obtained from U . S . Census Bureau Reports from 1945 to 1992 . <br /> The trend Wake County is losing farmland much more rapidly than most areas <br /> T <br /> in Wake County in the United States . In 1945 farmland covered 76 percent of Wake <br /> County. Today that figure is down to 22 percent due to rapid <br /> urbanization and conversion to other land uses . Less than 15 <br /> percent of the farms found in Wake County in 1945 remain today. <br /> The Wake County f Wake County adopted a voluntary program in 1989 designed to <br /> Government response I protect farms through the purchase of development rights . Under <br /> this program , the county would pay farm owners an amount of <br /> money equal to the difference between the land ' s agricultural and <br /> development values . Budget priorities have limited the success of <br /> this program but efforts to obtain funding continue . Until funds are <br /> obtained , farmland preservation is promoted through educational <br /> programs encouraging estate planning by farm owners . Wake <br /> County does provide use value tax relief to qualifying farm owners <br /> to reduce the property tax burden on the local farming community. <br /> i <br /> This reduced tax rate for farm operations has made it possible for <br /> agriculture to continue in many areas in spite of the rapidly <br /> escalating land values in the county. <br /> i <br /> 25 <br />