Conservation groups sponsoring Farmland Preservation Workshop
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A workshop discussing farmland preservation issues will be held Tuesday, March 30 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The meeting will be at Appalachian Gateway Meeting
Room at the SSCC South Campus in Fincastle.
The meeting is being sponsored by Ohio Valley RC&D Council, the Highland, Brown, and Adams Soil and Water Conservation Districts, The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, and the Southern Ohio Farmland Preservation Association. The meeting is designed for landowners and elected officials.
The March 30 meeting is focused on Adams, Brown and Highland counties.
Owners of farmland will receive information about ways to conserve and protect their land for agriculture, ranging from state and federal programs, to private land trusts, to new strategies to make their farms more profitable. Local public officials will learn about the importance of agriculture to local economies and how they might make plans to build on that economic potential. They also will receive information about the value of agriculture in helping to keep county revenues in line with costs.
Even in agricultural counties, some local officials view farmland as property that can be sold for economic development. The workshop will offer information about the economic importance of farming, and show that land in agriculture and open space is less of a strain on public services. The meeting will also underscore the importance of community planning to protect farmland, and show how development density in appropriate locations can avoid sprawl and protect farms.
Attendees will learn what tools and programs are available around the state (such as agricultural easement purchase and donation programs, agricultural security areas, agricultural zoning, and others), and how those tools have been used by landowners and local governments elsewhere in Ohio.
Workshops will be conducted by Brian Williams, farmland policy consultant for MORPC. Williams had a 25-year career in journalism and wrote extensively about agriculture, land-use, conservation and other issues. In the last six years, he has worked for non-profit organizations focused on farmland preservation, land-use and transportation. Before coming to MORPC, he spent three years as Ohio Field Office director for American Farmland Trust.
Pat Hornschemeier will also provide an overview of the efforts of the Southern
Ohio Farmland Preservation Association.
Persons having questions can call the Ohio Valley RC&D office at (937) 695-1293 or call your local Soil and Water Conservation District office.[[In-content Ad]]
Room at the SSCC South Campus in Fincastle.
The meeting is being sponsored by Ohio Valley RC&D Council, the Highland, Brown, and Adams Soil and Water Conservation Districts, The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, and the Southern Ohio Farmland Preservation Association. The meeting is designed for landowners and elected officials.
The March 30 meeting is focused on Adams, Brown and Highland counties.
Owners of farmland will receive information about ways to conserve and protect their land for agriculture, ranging from state and federal programs, to private land trusts, to new strategies to make their farms more profitable. Local public officials will learn about the importance of agriculture to local economies and how they might make plans to build on that economic potential. They also will receive information about the value of agriculture in helping to keep county revenues in line with costs.
Even in agricultural counties, some local officials view farmland as property that can be sold for economic development. The workshop will offer information about the economic importance of farming, and show that land in agriculture and open space is less of a strain on public services. The meeting will also underscore the importance of community planning to protect farmland, and show how development density in appropriate locations can avoid sprawl and protect farms.
Attendees will learn what tools and programs are available around the state (such as agricultural easement purchase and donation programs, agricultural security areas, agricultural zoning, and others), and how those tools have been used by landowners and local governments elsewhere in Ohio.
Workshops will be conducted by Brian Williams, farmland policy consultant for MORPC. Williams had a 25-year career in journalism and wrote extensively about agriculture, land-use, conservation and other issues. In the last six years, he has worked for non-profit organizations focused on farmland preservation, land-use and transportation. Before coming to MORPC, he spent three years as Ohio Field Office director for American Farmland Trust.
Pat Hornschemeier will also provide an overview of the efforts of the Southern
Ohio Farmland Preservation Association.
Persons having questions can call the Ohio Valley RC&D office at (937) 695-1293 or call your local Soil and Water Conservation District office.[[In-content Ad]]