Project Update

Landslide Victory for Clean Ohio Bond Fund

After an action packed road to election day the suspense is over. Nearly 70% of Ohio's voters followed in the footsteps of the bi-partisan champions of Issue 2, and secured the Clean Ohio Bond Fund. The Clean Ohio Bond offers great promise to farmland protection and the environment. By preserving farmland, protecting green space, cleaning up urban brownfields, and providing recreational trails the bond will ensure a bright future for Ohio--all without raising taxes. AFT was instrumental in the creation of the Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program. Since its inception in 2000 the Clean Ohio program has made an impressive impact on Buckeye farms [PDF] .

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. Specifically, 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. WCPN Radio in Cleveland used the studies as the foundation for their news report on development patterns in the Cleveland metropolitan area.

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.

The guide includes case studies of ideas and efforts that have been effective: innovative zoning in Clark County, active land trusts around the state and entrepreneurial farm marketing in Wayne County, where the Hartzler family opened the first new dairy processing plant in Ohio in decades.

The Ohio guide is the sixth such publication produced by AFT to assist farmers and landowners. The others are for Kentucky, South Carolina, Connecticut, New York and the Rocky Mountain states.

More Focus on Ohio

• Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program Results
• Shopping with a Message at Perrysburg Farmers Market
• Lake County Asks: What is The Value of Agriculture?
  

FederAl Farm Policy and The farm bill: what’s in it for Ohio?

Energy and environmental policies are a priority for President Obama’s Administration. At the heart of these issues lies American farmland. Agriculture can be part of the solution if the correct policies are enacted. Read our 9 for ’09 policy recommendations and ask President Obama to engage agriculture in these critical issues.

• What’s in the farm bill and why is it important?
• Find out what’s next for the farm bill and how we can make sure the legislation's promises 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.
  

  
  

   

  The Apple as Planet Earth Do you know how much of the earth is suitable for farming? Watch this short animated presentation and learn why protecting our farmland is so important.