RICHMOND—A new resource created by American Farmland Trust and partners is now available to help Virginia’s counties, cities and towns envision and prepare for a future where local farms will continue to thrive.
Pressures of urban sprawl, population growth, deployment of renewable energy and development have had a direct impact on Virginia farms, down 18% in 20 years. Over a third of a million acres of farmland have been converted to development, said Katelyn Jordan, assistant director of governmental relations for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.
“If trends continue, the commonwealth could lose another 800,000 acres by 2040,” she said. “While the forces driving this change may feel unstoppable, the reality is, we have choices.”
American Farmland Trust’s Planning for Agriculture in Virginia Toolkit is a resource designed to help communities protect farmland, support farm economies and plan for growth that sustains agriculture and the environment. It showcases some of the tools available in Virginia to preserve, protect and ensure the vitality of agriculture in a community, to be used when county leaders are making land use and funding appropriation decisions.
Jordan said smart, local land use planning can make all the difference.
“Local governments hold the key to farmland preservation,” she explained. “Through thoughtful land-use planning, zoning and community engagement, our local leaders can safeguard the commonwealth’s agricultural lands and reverse the concerning trend of rapid loss of farmland. We must empower our local leaders to act now, because protecting farmland starts at home.”
AFT’s toolkit provides communities with tools rooted in Virginia law and planning practices and grounded in real-life examples from across the state. The guide outlines policies like use-value assessment, agricultural and forestal districts, and purchase of development rights programs, and shows how they’ve worked in Virginia. It includes fact sheets, resources and success stories.
“This toolkit comes at a critical time for Virginia agriculture,” said David Blount, executive director of the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions. “Planning decisions made today will determine whether farms remain a vibrant part of our communities tomorrow. This resource offers practical steps any locality can take to support farmers and protect farmland.”
VFBF was a partner in the Planning for Agriculture in Virginia Advisory Committee, tasked with creation of the toolkit. It was developed with the input of more than 40 stakeholders including local officials, conservationists, planners and farmers.
“If farmland is paved over, we don’t get it back,” Jordan said. “But we can chart a different course. We have the tools, so let’s put them to work for Virginia!”
Visit the Planning for Agriculture in Virginia Toolkit, or call 800-370-4879.
-Virginia Farm Bureau