EXTENSION
Farm Land Preservation Education
Virginia Cooperative Extension has launched educational programs to help citizens learn how to protect their farm and forest land.
"Extension agents throughout the commonwealth have the information and resources to help citizens understand the options they have and to make unbiased decisions about farmland preservation," said James Riddell, Extension assistant director for Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Riddell added that preserving these lands is a complex economic issue. Among the factors are growth management, zoning, purchase of development rights, land-use taxation, agriculture and forest districts, Forest Legacy and Forest Protection programs, conservation easements, and others.
Extension is emphasizing programs on the conservation of farm and forest land because it is an issue important Virginians. During the recent Extension situational analysis, citizens were asked what issues they want Extension to address. "Extension agents will be organizing programs that will address the issues in the region in which they work as well as helping individuals find answers to their specific questions," Riddell said.
Preserving farm and forest land is a Virginia Ag and Forestry Initiative for 2006. The Virginia Agribusiness Council, the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the Virginia Forest Products Association, and the Virginia Forestry Association, as well as other groups support the initiatives.
Farmers and forest landowners hold more than 20 million acres of land in Virginia. These lands provide the thousands of safe food and valuable fiber products people use every day, according to Virginia Forestry Association information. The American Farmland Trust reported that between 1982 and 1997 more than 6 million acres of U.S. farmland were converted to urban uses.