Study Broadens Knowledge Of Farm Conservation Easements WASHINGTON, D.C. A new study on agricultural ease ment programs finds that use of this land conservation tool is most prevalent in suburban and semi-rural parts of major metro politan areas-counties with popu lations of more than 100,000 that have been experiencing rapid population growth for years. “A National View of Agricul tural Easement Programs” is the most in-depth and comprehen sive analysis of agricultural ease ment programs undertaken in the United States. This report, the first in a series to be issued from the study, profiles 46 agri cultural easement programs in IS states-nearly half of all publicly funded farmland protection pro grams in the nation. The 46 programs studied have spent a total of $l.B billion to protect 887,000 acres on 5,800 farms. The study was done by American Farmland Trust and the Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, in col laboration with Farm Founda tion. “This study reveals a diversity Sometimes You Need a Spreader When spreading stockpiled lime, for example. The Stoltzfus Wet Lime Spreader is likely the most powerful spreader of its kind on the market today. You see, we’ve been building them since 1945, and farmers are still using Stoltzfus Wet Lime Spreaders they’ve had for 20, even 30 years. Our special drag chain is 4 times stronger than stainless steel, and handles frozen and heavy stockpiled lime with ease. Plus for spreading compost, composted sludge, poultry litter and certain fertilizers, the WLS is without equal for sheer volume spreading. • Two-ton, five-ton, eight-ton models • PTO, 540 rpm or 1,000 rpm • Two-speed conveyor chain • Leaf spring suspension • Dual 24 ” spinners • Spreads 40’ effectively • One-sided spreading capability • Truck-mounted models available of ways that farm conservation easement programs are con ceived, managed and funded,” said project director Alvin D. So kolow, University of Califomia- Davis. “What all of the programs have in common, however, is that they were launched by a show of strong public support for farm land protection. This common conviction supported the bond is sues, revenue measures and pub lic deliberations needed to estab lish and maintain the programs.” Agricultural easements allow landowners to sell the develop ment rights on their farms to gov ernment or nonprofit organiza tions in exchange for agreeing to keep the land permanently avail able for agriculture. The use of farm easements has grown expo nentially since the 19705; today twenty-six states have at least one publicly funded easement program at the state or local level. One interesting finding was that the cost of agricultural ease ments-generally the difference between the market and agricul tural values of the land-varies tremendously. “The per acre cost Built Like A Tank Morgan Way, P.O. Box 527, Morgantown, PA 19543 Cut your fertilizer bill by liberating nutrients tied up by acid soil. 1-800-843-8731 STOLTZFUS of individual easement transac tions ranges from a few hundred dollars in rural areas, to close to $lOO,OOO in a few metropolitan locations with intense develop ment pressure,” Sokolow ex plained. Although the average price of easements for all 46 programs studied was approximately $2,000 per acre, the report ex plains that easements are often worth far more than their price tags. “Donations by landowners for tax benefits can help lower the price of easements and sweet en the deal for communities wishing to protect farmland,” said Julia Freedgood, director of American Farmland Trust’s Technical Assistance Services. The report, “A National View of Agricultural Easement Pro- along with maps of land protected through most of the 46 programs studied, is available at www.farmland.org and www.farmfoundation.org. Addi tional reports from the study will address acquisition strategies, land use planning and the im pacts and effectiveness of ease ment programs. Use Lime. www.stoltzfusmfg.com Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 11,2003-A3l ‘Cook’s Miss Attitude’ At First Annual Sale HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) “The bidding starts at $2,000,” said auctioneer John Spiker at the first annual Key stone of Excellence Simmental Sale. The cattle auction was con ducted in the Sale Arena of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex on Sunday. Bidding ranged from $225 for embryos of KCF Lorin 6G, exhibited by J & J Farms, to $3,900 for a polled purebred. Cook’s Miss Attitude, exhibited by John W. Cook. Cook’s Miss Attitude was noted as the sale feature. Her dam was grand champion fe male at the 2000 Keystone In ternational Livestock Exhibi Raw Milk Information Meeting Oct. 20 LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) announces a day-long symposium for concerned producers who sell, or would like to sell, raw milk and raw milk products directly to the public. This informational gathering will be Monday, Oct. 20, at the Lan- caster Farm and Home Center. Doors open at 8 a.m. and activities are scheduled to begin prompt ly at 9 a.m. In addition to farmers, others attend ing will include representatives of the Pennsylva nia Department of Agriculture, as well as interested consumers and activists. The morning session will feature three speakers Tim Wightman, Lee Dexter, and Mark McAfee who will share their creative approaches to com plex raw milk sales regulations. Hailing from Wis consin, Texas, and California respectively, these three will weave together their unique stories with a common thread: finding effective responses to the growing public demand for fresh, unpasteu rized dairy products. After lunch, a question-and answer panel with speakers and other invited guests will be followed by a short planning and strategy session. A requested donation of $lO per adult and $5 per child will be collected at the door. Lunch is potluck style. Sandwiches will be provided please bring a non-meat dish to share. tion (KILE) at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, and won her division at the American Royal in Kansas City. The show and sale were sponsored by the Pennsylva nia Simmental Association. Joe Messick, association presi dent, kicked off the sale when he said, “We have an impres sive lineup of cattle to be sold today. They have proven to be excellent at the state, national and international shows. I’m positive that they can take each of us to that level.” Ten embryos, four bred fe males, 21 open heifers, and two bulls were sold at the event. AMISHTOWN GENERAL STORE, LLC Hardware 'Tools • Martin Senour Paints TnaKila OBOSTTTCH.I Nuts & Bolts By The Pound Animal Health Supplies Air Compressors & Fittings, Plumbing Supplies, Lawn & Garden, Volleyball & Croquet Sets, Trikes, Scooters, Express Wagons 147-A Amishtown Rd. New Holland, PA 17557 Phone: 717*355*9400 Open M-F 6 A.M - 6 PM; Thurs night till 8 PM„ Sat 7A M - 2 PM We do the work. You get paid. CREP - the Farm Service Agency s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program - pays agricultural landowners rental fees to convert acreage from crops to conservation features, such as forested stream buffers, wildlife food plots, and filter strips. Land Studies, Inc. provides and installs native trees and shrubs at no cost to you! Earn money and help improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and erosion control on your land. Sign up for CREP. for LandStudies I North Street (717) 627-4440 L,tiu PA 17,41
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