Preserving Agricultural Land
From the Western Ag Network, I’m Bob Larson. The amount of productive farmland in America continues its decline.
And, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says the development and loss of farmland should not come at the cost of American agriculture …
DUVALL … “America’s farmland supports farm families, rural communities, and national food security. Competition for that land is growing as housing, solar projects, and data centers expand. Since 1982, America’s cropland has declined more than 55 million acres.”
That loss, Duvall says has come with some benefits, but at the cost of a great deal of once productive land …
DUVALL … “Development can bring jobs and investment, but we must consider the long-term impact. Once farmland is covered by roads, buildings, or infrastructure, it is unlikely to return to agriculture. The best way to preserve farmland is to make sure farmers and ranchers can afford to keep farming it.”
Tough decisions will need to be made, Duvall says and it won’t be easy …
DUVALL … “With record-high costs and tight margins, farm families face difficult choices when an offer is made on their property. We can support growth while protecting private property rights and giving rural communities a voice.”
Again, that’s Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
