Agricultural Lands Protection
Ohio was second only to Texas in the amount of prime farmland lost to developed uses during the years 1982 to 2007. Prime farmland is the best quality land for agricultural uses (American Farmland Trust, 2010). The importance of agricultural land in the state, regional and local economies, and the costs and pros of its preservation have been in a subject of debate and discussion. Yet, there is a pressing concern on the loss of farmland in Ohio. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 343.5 acres of farmland each day was lost by Ohio between the years 2002-2007. 115, 200 acres of agricultural land were turned into developed uses (American Farmland Trust, 2010). Also, over the five year period, the population grew at 0.06 percent. The population has low needs for new housing relative to the high rate of land use turnover. This situation shows the inefficiencies of the land resource management (Agricultural Lands Protection, 2016).
There have been various tools available to communities to assist in the achievement of their goals for agricultural land preservation. Using not only one but several tools together will help achieve the goal of agricultural land preservation. For the local government, a tool called agricultural zoning is used to address land use provisions. Agricultural zoning helps support agriculture and transfer of developmental rights. This tool is economical and adaptable. It also allows for uniform protection to an entire district. Agricultural zoning can be used in implementing policies for balanced growth. In Transfer of Development Rights programs, it can encourage landowners to focus developing in appropriate places. Other tools include agricultural easements and enhanced agricultural economic development support (Agricultural Lands Protection, 2016).
Protection of agricultural lands contributes to the reduction of the quantity of storm water that would enter local waterways. Aside from that, farmland preservation can help in controlling the water quality in Ohio watersheds especially when employed with stream setbacks and vegetation filters. It can also contribute to the recharging of groundwater sources. Better quality and quantity of drinking water within the water shed can be the effect of this (Agricultural Lands Protection, 2016).
The economic benefit of preserving farmlands is quite remarkable. The food and agriculture industry of Ohio contributes to $107 billion to the state’s economy. Interestingly, 1 out 7 Ohioans is employed in the agricultural industry. In the local communities, the economic benefits of farmland can be illustrated through the following findings of the Cost of Community Services studies: for each $1 of revenue received from residential properties, local governments spend $1.16 in providing services to those same lands. For every $1 of revenue that a community receives from farmland, that same community spends only $0.32 in providing services to the land. The indirect benefits of farmlands include fresh food at cheaper prices, low property taxes, agribusiness and promotion of local tourism (Agricultural Lands Protection, 2016).
An example in real life would be Green Township, Ashland County which declared agriculture as the main purpose for the zoning district. The first step is to establish a purpose language then to employ mechanisms that would implement the district purposes (Hall & Clark, 2007). Its aim is to protect or maintain agricultural land uses. This district is an example of mandatory exclusive zoning district that promotes only agriculture, farm dwellings and related uses for a minimum lot size of one acre. The permitted uses for the land are agriculture; farm dwellings and the like.
Reference
Agricultural Lands Protection. (2016) (1st ed., pp. 1-8). Retrieved from http://balancedgrowth.ohio.gov/Portals/0/BLLUP/2010%20Update/Chapter%2012%20Agriculture%20Protection%2020150626.pdf
American Farmland Trust. (2010). Farmland.org. Retrieved 6 July 2016, from https://www.farmland.org/
Hall, P. & Clark, J. (2007). Zoning in support of agriculture in ohio: what are the options? (1st ed., p. 6). Retrieved from http://glenn.osu.edu/farmland-policy/papers/2007_2.pdf
