The Reason for Farmland Protection
It has been reported by the American Farmland Trust that the United States is losing 2.2 million acres of rural lands to urban sprawl and development each year. In a smaller perspective that is over 4 acres being consumed by rapid development every second, or over 240 acres per minute.
35 states have implemented farmland protection programs to address this loss. The U. S. Department of Agriculture funds the farmland protection effort requiring a local match of 25 to 50 percent of the conservation easement cost.
West Virginia's loss of farmland, from 1964 to 1997 alone, is an incredible 17,732 farms and 1,823,060 acres according to the The U.S.D.A.
West Virginia lost 21,676 acres of orchard land in that same time period. From the years of 1982 through 1997, the top 25 most productive counties in West Virginia had a combined loss of 103,519 acres. 40% of this loss came from the Eastern Panhandle area effected by the expansion of the Washington D.C. suburbs.
To address the loss of agriculture lands and woodlands, the West Virginia Legislature passed into law on March 10, 2000 the Voluntary Farmland Protection Act.
In local terms the purpose of the Farmland Protection Act is to protect and promote the viability and quality of life of agricultural, horticultural and forestry land.
Monongalia County is growing at a rapid pace but yet it has a very diverse economy which spans from manufacturing to services . Still many of its citizens depend on farming, timber, and other natural resources for jobs. The Farmland Protection Act also has a purpose to protect small family farms from catastrophic expenses resulting from urban infrastructure development. Establishing an effective Farmland Protection Board provides a tool for Monongalia County to secure its future continuing as one of the best places to live in the United States.
It is important to understand that participation in the program is voluntary. Not every farming family is required to participate however the option should be available for those who do find this program to be of benefit to them. It is also important to understand that the purpose of a representative government is to assist its citizens with governing themselves. Because this is a voluntary program it is a tool rather than a government imposed regulation and for this reason should be provided to those who wish to utilize it.
According to the USDA website:
"The purpose of the Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) is to minimize the extent to which Federal programs contribute to the unnecessary and irreversible conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses. FPPA ensures, to the maximum extent practicable, that Federal programs are administered in a manner that is compatible with State, unit of local government, and private programs to protect farmland."
NRCS is the agency primarily responsible for implementation of the FPPA. Under FPPA, NRCS is to provide technical assistance to Federal agencies, state and local governments, tribes, or nonprofit organizations that desire to develop farmland protection programs and policies. NRCS summarizes FPPA implementation in an annual report to Congress.
When the West Virginia Voluntary Farmland Protection Act was established in 2000 by the legislature it requires counties to participate through the formation of a Farmland Protection Board. The State Authority is authorized under the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.
According to the State website the Voluntary Farmland Protection Act seeks to;
· Assist in sustaining the farming community
· Provide sources of agricultural products within the state for citizens of the state
· Control the urban expansion which is consuming the agricultural land, topsoil and
woodland of the state
· Curb the spread of urban blight and deterioration
· Protect agricultural land and woodland as open-space land
· Enhance tourism
· Protect worthwhile community values, institutions and landscapes which are inseparably
associated with traditional farming
The Farmland Protection Board for Monongalia County
Under the authority of the Voluntary Farmland Protection Act, the County Commission may adopt and implement a Farmland Protection program within the county.
The County Commission through a simple majority vote passes a resolution to create a farmland protection program. Once the vote to establish the program has been made the County Commission appoints a Farmland Protection Board. The Board will then administer the program on behalf of the County Commission.
It is Riffle's firm belief these appointments should be made with deep community input before a selection is made. A suitable public comment time should be established so that the best Board can be created. Because of the type of land management involved to be administered by this board the Commission should try to approve members who would be familiar with the various areas that Farmland Protection will cover.
Only after the Farmland Protection Board is formed should the Board adopt by-laws and operating procedures. The "20 Fences" guidelines proposed by Riffle's opponent removes the people's right to govern themselves, micro-manages the program, and stifles creative problem solving.
Submitting any qualifications for the administration of the Board before their submission of bylaws and procedures simply voids its ability to perform. Further the State has already established many of the requirements for eligibility. If the County Commission insists on these guidelines prior to a public board being established they have eliminated the reason the Board should exist.
The Farmland Protection Board develops the Farmland Protection Program for the county as approved by the County Commission. The Commission still has oversight on the procedures and starting on a level field of discussion will promote the formation of a more effective Board and program.
Benefits to Monongalia County by Establishing a Farmland Protection Board
· Provide a local source of agriculture products to the community
· Protection of green space important to the community, especially in rapidly developing
areas
· Increased Tourism that will boost the local econonmy
· Preservation of Historical sites and Cultural resources
· Protection of Natural Resources
· Protection of Water Supplies vital to communities
These are just a few benefits the proper management of the Board can provide to Monongalia County.
Please contact Lavonne Paden , West Virginia Farmland Protection Specialist, at (800) 922-3601 for further detailed information on the specifics of the program.
