Ohio Spotlight

Top Officials Join Forces to Save Farmland Without Raising Taxes

Ohio’s four top elected officials in the statehouse have joined together in support of Clean Ohio renewal and farmland preservation. Gov. Ted Strickland and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, both Democrats, along with Senate President Bill Harris and House Speaker Jon Husted, both Republicans, said renewing the Clean Ohio Bond Fund in the Nov. 4 election is a non-partisan way to preserve farmland, redevelop urban brownfields, protect greenspace and build recreational trails—all without raising taxes.

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Focus on Ohio

Talking about the Costs of Losing Farmland: Public Radio Show looks to Northeast Ohio

An American Farmland Trust study helped inspire a public radio report on the effects of sprawl and farmland loss in Northeast Ohio. Our updated cost of community services study for Madison Village and Madison Township in Lake County showed that new subdivisions typically do not provide enough tax revenue to support the public services they require—whereas farmland pays more in taxes than it costs in services. WCPN Radio in Cleveland used the studies as the foundation for their news report on development patterns in the Cleveland metropolitan area.

The Results Are In! Ohio Department of Agriculture Makes an Offer

The Ohio Farmland Preservation Advisory Board has finished scoring applications for the seventh and final round of the Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program . The Ohio Department of Agriculture is now making offers to those who submitted the top-scoring applications. Agriculture Director Bob Boggs made one significant change in the process this year in an effort to extend the reach of the program to new counties: a limit of one funded property per county. To see scoring results, click here:

American Farmland Trust Showcases Preservation at Ohio Agriculture Events

American Farmland Trust and other Ohio organizations will be at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus from July 30 to August 10 and other major agricultural events to promote farmland preservation to the general public and to farmers across the state. We also may be at the Farm Science Review, near London, Ohio, on Sept. 16-18.

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Lake County ASks: What is The Value of Agriculture?

Two new studies are helping Lake County residents understand the economic importance of agriculture. Results from an analysis of the value of farmland as a land use and an economic-impact study of the Northeast Ohio grape and wine industry were discussed by public officials, farmers and others at a presentation hosted by the Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District.

American Farmland Trust's Cost of Community Services study for Madison Village and Madison Township showed, among other things, that residential development in the township required $1.24 in public services for every $1 those homes paid in taxes, while farm and forest land required only 37 cents in services for every dollar in taxes. Read more

guide for landowners in ohio

The Ohio Agricultural Landowners Guide[PDF] is available to farmers who want to conserve and protect their land. The 16-page full-color guide summarizes a full range of federal conservation programs, state farmland preservation options and assorted local initiatives. More Success Stories

ohio hosts nation's largest State Farmland Preservation Gathering

The nation’s largest single-state farmland preservation conference continues to grow. About 270 people came to the 8th Annual Ohio Farmland Preservation Summit to hear speakers discuss the role of farm viability in the farmland protection movement. More

Ohio Farmland Preservation Policy issues Update

State Biennial Budget, Historic Investment Tax Credit, Transfer of Development Rights, Impact Fees, Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program and Ohio Agricultural Security Area Program. More Issues

A new farm bill, what’s in it for Ohio?

After years of work, we have a new 2008 Farm Bill. What does it mean for you and your community? From the foods we eat, to protecting farms from development, to helping keep our drinking water clean—the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 has many programs that affect all of us everyday.

• What’s in the new farm bill and why is it important?
• Find out what’s next for the farm bill and how we can make sure the promises made in the legislation are turned into programs on the ground.
• Get an in-depth look at Ohio's agricultural profile from a state and district level including production and program information.

Contact Us
Ohio State Office
Brian Williams, Ohio State Director
50 West Broad Street, Suite 3250
Columbus, OH 43215
(p) 614-469-9877 (f) 614-221-8620
bwilliams@farmland.org