Farmland preservation is a teamwork effort between groups that are not part of the government and local governments. These groups work to save and protect farmland in a region so that future generations can use, learn about, and enjoy it.
In the United States, these programs are usually run by state and local governments or private groups like land trusts. They aim to stop changing farmland into other types of land that might be more profitable for the landowner. Through government programs and rules, farmers can keep their land for growing crops and raising animals. Each state offers special tax benefits to help with this.
One common method is using easements, which let farms stay active while protecting the land. Other methods include creating agricultural districts, using land use rules to protect farmland, buying development rights, and using transferable development rights. These efforts are often part of plans for a region and national historic preservation. Farmland preservation has happened in many places across the United States, such as Virginia, Minnesota, Maryland, Florida, and Connecticut.
History
New Jersey passed the Farmland Assessment Act of 1964 to help protect farmland from being lost to fast-growing suburbs. The law changed how farmland is taxed based on how productive the land is. The idea was that lower taxes would help farmers stay in business. By the late 1970s, farmland had become more valuable than the tax benefits, so the state created the Agriculture Retention and Development Act of 1981. This law allowed the state to buy easements on farmland to stop development for uses like industry, shopping, or housing. As of 2022, this law has helped save about 2,800 farms covering 247,517 acres. In Monmouth County, the Navesink Highlands Greenway project, part of the Monmouth County Farmland Preservation Program, helped buy the development rights of Holly Crest Farm in Middletown in 2008 for $2.5 million. Over 20% of the county’s farmland and open spaces are now permanently protected. These areas are part of a land-trust, meaning the land is publicly owned. When someone buys a home in these areas, they purchase the building but also sign a long-term lease with the land-trust. The land-trust covers about 665 acres and includes both rural and urban areas. It is managed by an executive board and a board of trustees, who make land-use decisions based on conservation and sustainability.
The American Farmland Trust (AFT) was created in 1980 to protect farmland and support farming practices that help the environment. Since starting, the AFT has protected 7.1 million acres of farmland and helped raise $117 billion. Their goal is to help farmers stay on their land by providing financial support, which allows farmers to use farming methods that protect the environment. These methods help farms succeed long-term, support healthy ecosystems, and ensure enough crops are grown for the world’s growing population.
The Genesee Valley Conservancy, a public land-trust, was founded in western New York in 1990. It protects 32,787 acres along the Genesee River watershed. The group’s work includes preserving habitats, open spaces, and farmland. To protect the land, they plan to add new nature preserves and expand existing ones. They also want to offer educational and recreational activities to help people learn about the area. To get more funding, they plan to create clear plans for projects, hoping that specific goals will attract more support.
Farmland management
A conservation easement is a method used to protect farmland. Government programs, such as the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, support these agreements. ACEP helps keep farmland available for farming only. It ensures that land remains healthy for growing crops and supports livestock grazing. Groups like non-profit organizations, local governments, and Indian tribes can use funds from the program to buy land easements.
A Transferable Development Rights (TDR) program gives landowners money or other benefits to protect farmland. These programs exist in more than 200 communities across the United States. Developers can buy the right to build on land in a specific area called a "sending district" and move those rights to another area, called a "receiving district." This allows more land to be used for farming by designating certain areas as zones for growing crops. It helps prevent farmland from being sold for development.
In addition to these programs, laws have been passed to protect farmland. The U.S. Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA) sets a national rule to stop federally funded projects from using land meant for farming. This law prevents federal government activities, such as construction, from taking over farmland.
There are many programs to help manage farmland. One example is the federal Conservation Reserve Program, managed by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). This program pays farmers to leave certain parts of their land unused for a year. This helps improve soil quality and protect water resources. It supports farmers in keeping their land healthy for future farming.
Preservation efforts
In 2019, Virginia’s Office of Farmland Preservation gave money that matched what local programs raised to buy development rights for farmland. That year, the program preserved 14,163.99 acres by using $12,085,163.61 in matched funds. Elsing Green is a 2,254-acre historic plantation in Colonial Virginia. In 1980, the owners gave the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission an agreement to protect the land from demolition or inappropriate development. Elsing Green was also added to the Virginia Landmarks Registry on May 13, 1969. Oatlands Historical House and Gardens is a 263-acre plantation donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation by the daughters of its last owner. The site was named a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.
The largest preserved area in Kent County was 1,365 acres, protected through $5,850,144.98 in easements. Hampton Historical Site is a 63-acre area that includes the Hampton Mansion, gardens, farm buildings, slave quarters, and a family cemetery. Due to city growth and farming becoming less profitable, the Ridgely family sold the remaining land to the National Park Service. The site was restored and reopened in 1950. In 2023, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation used $16,767,322.23 in easements to permanently protect 4,600 acres of farmland.
The Minnesota Land Trust has protected about 79,421 acres across 698 projects. The largest deal was in 2021, when the trust bought four parcels worth $4.2 million. After the purchase, the land was donated to St. Louis County, which will manage it for recreation, wildlife, and sustainable use. In 2024, Krueger Christmas Tree Farm completed easements to protect 36 of its 46 acres.
In 2023, Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson helped secure $300 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP). This program provides funds to protect farmland, which helps protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Department of Agriculture ranked 257 farms, with Trailhead Blue Springs, a 12,098-acre cow ranch, placed first. The largest project is the Adams Ranch in Osceola County, covering 24,027 acres used for cattle. A joint effort by Conservation Florida and the Natural Resources Conservation Service protected 527 acres at XL Ranch Lightsey Cove along the Florida Wildlife Corridor. This ranch is located within the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape, which covers nearly 1.7 million acres and includes parts of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area.
In Connecticut, the Farmland Preservation Program has protected over 45,300 acres across 373 farms. Maple Bank Farm is one example, where an easement preserved 51 of the 80 acres on the property. In 2009, the program completed a three-way agreement with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture to preserve Winsneke Farm. This was the first agreement in the program’s history to involve the state, a land trust, and a federal agency. In 2021, after a three-year process, the town of Southington and the Farmland Preservation Program split the cost of buying development rights for Karabin Farms. This purchase protected over 1,000 acres and ensured the farm would continue operating.