KnowledgeBase Collection
Farmland Protection
Farmland is a vital local and national resource. But many communities have witnessed significant loss of this finite resource since the mid-twentieth century, due in part to changes in the structure of the farming industry but particularly to the sprawl of non-agricultural development into rural spaces, particularly on the edges of metropolitan areas.
Recognizing the long-term economic, environmental, and social costs of this loss, many communities have taken steps to protect agricultural lands. Local governments have adopted many planning, regulatory, and programmatic strategies to protect farmland and support the viability of their agricultural sectors.
From this page you can search for resources that provide background, policy guidance, and examples of local plan recommendations and regulatory standards for farmland protection from across the country. And you can filter these search results by various geographic and demographic characteristics.
APA Resources
Policy Guide on Agricultural Land Preservation
This APA policy guide addresses the loss of agricultural land through urban development on good farmland that could be accommodated on less productive land; highlighting the need to link farmland protection to controls preventing development, it lists key points to consider and support when planning for agricultural land protection.
Local Agricultural Preservation: Making the Food System Connection
This PAS Memo article discusses agricultural preservation programs, policies, and regulations, and tie these tools to the support of local food systems and the local economy.
The Farmland Protection Toolbox
This edition of PAS QuickNotes presents an overview of the tools most commonly used locally to reduce farm and ranch land conversion and to permanently protect agricultural land.
Preserving Prime Farmland in the Face of Urbanization: Lessons from Oregon
This JAPA article demonstrate that Oregon's mix of policies is effective in preserving prime farmland in the face of urbanization and proposes a comprehensive scheme for farmland preservation that expands on the experience of Oregon, including its mistakes.
Where Does Cluster Zoning Fit in Farmland Protection?
This JAPA article evaluates how well the technique of cluster zoning fits in with overall farmland protection methods.
Formulating and Evaluating Agricultural Zoning Programs
This JAPA article reports on data and analyses necessary to formulate effective, politically acceptable, and legally sound agricultural zoning programs.
The Purchase of Development Rights: Preserving Agricultural Land and Open Space
This JAPA article examines the use of public money to purchase development rights to privately held land, an increasingly popular way in recent years to preserve agricultural land and open space.
How Well Has Agricultural Protection Zoning Worked?
This Practicing Planner article reports on a study of how well agricultural zoning practices adopted by local governments in New York State’s Hudson Valley have worked in protecting farmland.
Threats to Farmland
At the moment, there is more U.S. agricultural land than necessary to meet market demands. But over the long term, as populations in the U.S. and abroad continue to grow rapidly, there will be a greater need to protect the remaining finite amount of good agricultural land.
Farmland is steadily being lost through both non-farm development on good agricultural land that could be accommodated on less productive land. Even when metropolitan areas are not increasing in population, much scattered development occurs in their vicinity, often on prime agricultural lands, whose physical characteristics are generally excellent for building.
Scattered development in farming areas removes agricultural land from production both directly and indirectly. Development directly removes farmland’s agricultural productivity. Indirectly, development may force nearby farmers out of production by non-farm residents’ complaints about dust, odors, sprays, and noise; by causing a general rise in land values leading to higher property taxes; and by fragmenting and decimating the “critical mass” of working farmland needed to maintain an economically viable agricultural sector.
Farmland Protections
Farmland protection strategies used by state and local governments to preserve agricultural lands and protect working farms generally focus on either protecting farmland from conversion to non-farm uses by prohibiting or restricting development on farmland or permanently protecting those lands, or minimizing conflicts between existing agricultural operations and new development.
Farmland protection plans help local governments inventory important farmland, set goals for its protection, and identify strategies for implementation. Such strategies include agricultural zoning, agricultural buffers, right-to-farm ordinances, transfer or purchase of development rights programs, farmland mitigation requirements, and cluster or conservation development regulations.
One agricultural zoning technique is the use of area-based allocation, also called sliding-scale or density zoning, which establishes limitations on the ability of landowners to subdivide large tracts of land. Other important aspects of agricultural protection zoning include prohibitions of non-farm development on prime agricultural soils, establishing agricultural buffers between working farms and encroaching residential development to minimize land-use conflicts, and codifying right-to-farm provisions that protect farmers from nuisance complaints.
Other regulatory approaches include establishing transfer of development rights programs targeted at preserving working farmlands, enacting agricultural land loss mitigation requirements, and requiring conservation or cluster development that preserves working farmland as permanent open space. Local governments may also encourage permanent protection of farmland through the establishment of purchase of development rights programs, conservation easements, or other mechanisms.
Background Resources
Agricultural Protection Zoning
This online guide from the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association summarizes agricultural protection zoning options and describes implementation for local communities.
Development at the Urban Fringe and Beyond: Impacts on Agriculture and Rural Land
This USDA report examines the two major patterns of U.S. land development—expansion of urban areas and large-lot development (greater than 1 acre per house) in rural areas—and the potential impacts on agriculture and rural communities.
Farmland Preservation Policies in the United States: Successes and Shortcomings
This paper explores land-use and growth management-related farmland protection efforts of state and local governments.
Farmland Protection: The Role of Local Governments in Protecting Farmland as a Vital Local Resource
This briefing paper offers an overview of regulatory and programmatic approaches to protect farmland from nonfarm development.
Policies and Programs: Protect Farm and Ranch Land
This website, curated by the American Farmland Trust’s Farmland Information Center, provides an overview of state and federal programs, regulations, and other strategies to protect farmland and support agriculture.
Preservation of Agricultural Lands Through Land Use Planning Tools and Techniques
This article discusses a number of regulatory and nonregulatory farmland protection policy and implementation techniques.
Preserving Large Farming Landscapes: The Case of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
This article stresses the importance of preserving large farming landscapes, highlighting three measures that best reflect the spatial effectiveness of farmland preservation efforts.
Sustaining Agriculture in Urbanizing Counties: Insights from 15 Coordinated Case Studies
This study examined 15 metro area counties across the U.S to identify conditions under which farming may remain viable in agriculturally important areas that are subject to substantial development pressures.
Reports
Can City and Farm Coexist? The Agricultural Buffer Experience in California
This report examines the topic of agricultural buffers in California as a tool to minimize conflict between working farmlands and residents.
Development at the Urban Fringe and Beyond: Impacts on Agriculture and Rural Land
This USDA report examines the two major patterns of U.S. land development—expansion of urban areas and large-lot development (greater than 1 acre per house) in rural areas—and the potential impacts on agriculture and rural communities.
East Windsor Township, NJ, Agricultural Zoning Analysis
This report examines legal questions around adopting agricultural zoning as a means of protecting the agricultural industry and existing preserved farms of the township.
Farmland Conservation: Reality or Wishful Thinking? California Case Studies
This report offers 11 case studies of California counties and regions showcasing some of the most successful and promising local farmland conservation programs in the state.
Farmland and Open Space Preservation Tools, Washington County, WI
This study discusses a wide range of preservation tools representing existing and potential strategies for farmland protection within the county.
Farms for the Future: A Strategic Approach to Saving Maryland’s Farmland and Rural Resources
This report from lays out the tools used to create the state of Maryland’s seminal innovative and successful farmland protection strategy.
Articles
Agricultural Buffers at the Rural-Urban Fringe: An Examination of Approval by Farmers, Residents, and Academics in the Midwestern United States
This article asks whether agricultural buffers can help mediate conflicts between households and working farms on the rural-urban fringe.
Farmland Protection: What’s Behind the Growing Interest?
This article examines three main approaches to farmland protection: farm viability, agricultural zoning, and permanent conservation.
Preservation of Agricultural Lands Through Land Use Planning Tools and Techniques
This article discusses a number of regulatory and nonregulatory farmland protection policy and implementation techniques.
Preserving Large Farming Landscapes: The Case of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
This article stresses the importance of preserving large farming landscapes, highlighting three measures that best reflect the spatial effectiveness of farmland preservation efforts.
Priorities for Advancing the Concept of New Ruralism
This article expands on the concept of “New Ruralism,” a development framework that links farmland preservation with residential development to reduce farmland conversion and counteract sprawl.
The Future of Farming on the Urban Edge: Insights from Fifteen U.S. Counties About Farmland Protection and Farm Viability
This article surveyed landowners in 15 U.S. counties to examine the opportunities and constraints that farmers face in urban-edge areas.
CLearinghouses
New Jersey Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plans
This website lists links to approved comprehensive farmland preservation plans from New Jersey counties and municipalities.
Policies and Programs: Protect Farm and Ranch Land
This website, curated by the American Farmland Trust’s Farmland Information Center, provides an overview of state and federal programs, regulations, and other strategies to protect farmland and support agriculture.
States’ Right-to-Farm Statutes
This website from the National Agricultural Law Center offers links to PDFs of each state’s Right-to-Farm statute.
Briefing Papers
Agricultural Land Conservation: An Important Part of California’s Climate Strategy
This white paper argues for another benefit of farmland preservation: helping to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Agricultural Zoning
This paper defines and describes various types of agricultural zoning and related legal issues.
County Right-to-Farm Ordinances in California: An Assessment of Impact and Effectiveness
This briefing paper reviewed 15 county-adopted right-to-farm ordinances to determine the effectiveness of this tool in protecting agricultural operations and reducing farm-urban edge conflicts.
Farmland Preservation Policies in the United States: Successes and Shortcomings
This paper explores land-use and growth management-related farmland protection efforts of state and local governments.
Farmland Protection: The Role of Local Governments in Protecting Farmland as a Vital Local Resource
This briefing paper offers an overview of regulatory and programmatic approaches to protect farmland from nonfarm development.
Purchase of Development Rights and Conservation Easements: Frequently Asked Questions
This briefing paper offers answers to frequently asked questions about purchase of development rights and conservation easement programs.
Fact Sheets
Agricultural Conservation Easements
This two-page handout defines agricultural conservation easements and describes the mechanics of this farmland protection tool.
Agricultural District Programs
This four-page handout describes state-level agricultural district programs.
Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements
This two-page handout defines and describes purchase of agricultural conservation easement (PACE) programs and shows which states have active programs.
Guides
Agricultural Protection Zoning
This online guide from the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association summarizes agricultural protection zoning options and describes implementation for local communities.
Agricultural Zoning District Guidelines for Lancaster County, PA
This guidebook for agricultural zoning describes the area-based fixed-scale and sliding-scale agricultural zoning prevalent within the county.
Guide to Edge Planning: Promoting Compatibility Along Agricultural–Urban Edges
This guide from British Columbia offers guidelines for maximizing compatibility between uses in Edge Planning Areas, or agricultural and urban lands near Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) boundaries.
Innovative Land Use Planning Techniques: A Handbook for Sustainable Development
This compendium of model ordinances addresses active transportation, environmentally sensitive areas, farmland protection, inclusionary housing, residential infill development, scenic view protection, transfer of development rights, and transit-oriented development.
Open Space & Resource Protection Regulations
This guide includes discussions of fixed area/sliding scale zoning and cluster/conservation development for farmland protection.
Orland, CA, Administrative Guidelines for Implementation of General Plan Agricultural Buffering Policies
This guide addresses farmland protection by establishing agricultural buffering guidelines for new urban development in the city.
Policies
Larimer County, CO, A Right to Farm and Ranch Policy
The county’s right-to-farm resolution protects farms and ranches from nuisance complaints as long as they are compliant with county regulations.
Staff Reports
Santa Barbara County, CA, Final Negative Declaration: Agricultural Buffer Ordinance
This staff report represents the final negative declaration for environmental impacts of a proposed agricultural buffer ordinance.
Models
Agricultural Zoning District Guidelines for Lancaster County, PA
This guidebook for agricultural zoning describes the area-based fixed-scale and sliding-scale agricultural zoning prevalent within the county.
Georgia Model Code: Alternatives to Conventional Zoning
This model unified development code addresses design review, farmland protection, nonconformities, residential infill development, scenic view protection, zoning reform and code writing, and variances.
Innovative Land Use Planning Techniques: A Handbook for Sustainable Development
This compendium of model ordinances addresses active transportation, environmentally sensitive areas, farmland protection, inclusionary housing, residential infill development, scenic view protection, transfer of development rights, and transit-oriented development.
Land Preservation Notebook: Model Ordinances
This collection from North Carolina includes model ordinances for county Voluntary and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts and county and municipal land conservation programs, as well as a farmland protection plan template.
Model Farmland Preservation Zoning Ordinances
These two model ordinances for farmland preservation create a farmland preservation district within a community.
Model Municipal Ordinance: Establishment of an Agricultural Advisory Committee
This model ordinance establishes a process for creating a municipal agricultural advisory committee to help plan for the protection of agricultural resources.
Comprehensive Plans
Batavia, NY, Comprehensive Plan
The town’s 2007 comprehensive plan addresses farmland protection.
Boone County, IL, Comprehensive Plan
The county’s comprehensive plan addresses farmland protection.
Davis, CA, General Plan
The city’s general plan addresses farmland protection in Chapter 15, Agriculture, Soils, and Minerals.
Henderson County, NC, 2020 Comprehensive Plan
The Agricultural element of the county’s comprehensive plan addresses farmland protection.
Linn County, OR, Comprehensive Plan
The land use element code within the county’s comprehensive plan addresses farmland protection.
Orland, CA, General Plan
The land use and open space and conservation elements of the city’s general plan address farmland protection.
Functional Plans
A Farmland Preservation Plan for Kenosha County, WI
The county’s farmland preservation plan relates farmland preservation efforts to the larger comprehensive planning process.
A Farmland Preservation Plan for Washington County, WI
The county’s farmland preservation plan offers goals, recommendations, and implementation strategies that discuss consistency among the comprehensive plan, farmland preservation plan, and local zoning ordinances.
Albany County, NY, Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan
The county’s farmland protection plan offers goals and recommendations for farmland protection.
Atlantic County, NJ, Farmland Preservation Plan
The county’s farmland preservation plan sets 1, 5, and 10-year acreage goals for farmland protection.
Burlington County, NJ, Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan
The county’s farmland preservation plan sets a goal of the preservation of an additional 20,000 acres more than the 50,000 acres already protected.
Calumet County, WI, Farmland Preservation Plan
The county’s farmland preservation plan highlights direct and indirect land preservation tools to be implemented by local governments to help protect farmland.
Regulations
Boone County, IL, Code of Ordinances
The county addresses farmland protection in its code of ordinances through establishing an agricultural conservation easement and farmland protection program as well as agricultural district protections in its zoning code.
Brecknock, PA, Municipal Code
The township’s zoning code addresses farmland protection.
Broward County, FL, Code of Ordinances
The county's zoning code addresses farmland protections and solar energy systems, and its Commercial Redevelopment Overlay is intended to reverse the decline of commercial properties.
Butte County, CA, Zoning Ordinance
The county's zoning ordinance addresses agritourism and farmland protection and defines and provides standards for four tiers of solar utility uses.
Calaveras County, CA, County Code
These regulations belong to the Agritourism, Farmland Protection, and Home Occupations collections.
Calhoun County, MI, Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance
The county addresses farmland protection through a farmland preservation program ordinance.
Related Collections
Food Systems
This collection catalogs resources that provide background, policy guidance, model ordinances, and examples of local and regional plan recommendations and development regulations for various types of activities and uses that promote food access or security from across the country.
Support for this collection was provided by the Growing Food Connections Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2012-68004-19894 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.