Last updated October 2009
Agriculture and Urbanization
Overview
The United States is primarily an urban population living in a rural nation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). Individuals in many areas of the country are concerned by the local loss of farmland, and as a result farmland preservation programs have been widely adopted. The motivation for these programs comes from public concern for food security, preservation of a rural lifestyle, environmental protection, and the prevention of urban sprawl. Despite the efforts to preserve farmland, the continued encroachment of new urban areas into agricultural regions creates a tension between the new inhabitants and the agricultural production operations that struggle to survive in the same location. However, not all effects of urbanization negatively affect agriculture. Urbanization may cause land values to drastically increase, raising the value of farm assets and providing potential retirement income to farmers. In addition, marketing opportunities and access to labor may provide economic benefits to agricultural producers. This overview focuses on farmland preservation programs and the potential legal issues that may arise as agricultural lands become urbanized.
Read the full overview
Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.
Major Statutes
Farmland Protection Policy Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 4201-4209
Farmland Protection Program, 7 U.S.C. §§ 3838h-3838j
Conservation Easement Statutes (Farmland Information Center)
State Agricultural Protection Acts
Uniform Conservation Easement Act
Compilation of States' Right-To-Farm Statutes
Compilation of States' Recreational Use Statutes
Regulations
Farmland Protection Policy Act Regulations, 7 C.F.R. §§ 658.1-658.7
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program Regulations, 7 C.F.R. §§1491.1-1491.32
Federal Register Rules Open for Comment
Center published Federal Register Digest
Case Law
Case Law Index for Agriculture and Urbanization
Center Research Publications
Right-to-Farm Statutes and Corporate Farming Laws (Rumley, 2009)
States' Right-To-Farm Statutes (Springsteen, 2009)
Agricultural Contracts and the Leasing of Land - PowerPoint Presentation (Rumley, 2009)
States' Recreational Use Statutes (Springsteen & Rumley, 2008)
Governments and Unconstitutional Takings: When Do Right-To-Farm Laws Go Too Far? (Centner, 2007)
The Constitutionality of Partition Fence Statutes in the Midwest (Molloy and Reid, 2004)
Zoning Limitations and Opportunities for Farm Enterprise Diversification (Branan, 2004)
Nuisance Immunity in Iowa's Right-to-Farm Statute: A Taking Without Just Compensation? (Dzur, 2004)
Agricultural Zoning, Bankruptcy, and the Rural Homestead (Laurence, 2003)
Congressional Research Service Reports
CRS Subject(s):
Rural Development
Environmental Issues
Public Lands
Agricultural Law Bibliography
Introduction | Keyword Search | Browse Categories
Legal publications on Urbanization and Agriculture:
Corporate Farming (Restrictions on Corporate Farming/Family Farm Preservation)
Environmental Issues
Farm Policy and Legislative Analysis
Hunting, Recreation and Wildlife
Land Use Regulation
Public Lands
Rural Development
Transportation
Reference Resources
Economic Research Service (ERS)
Briefing Room: Land Use, Value, and Management
Briefing Room: Rural Amenities
Farmland Protection: The Role of Public Preferences for Rural Amenities
(Hellerstein et al., 2002)
Partial Interests in Land: Policy Tools for Resource Use and Conservation (Wiebe et al.,1996)
Topic: Rural/Natural Amenities
Topic: Natural Resources and Environment: Rural/Natural Amenities
Development at the Urban Fringe and Beyond: Impacts on Agriculture and Rural Land
(Heimlich and Anderson, 2001)
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Community Assistance and Farmland Planning
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
Farmland Protection Policy Act
Congressional Resources
Reports on Farmland Protection (Government Accountability Office)
Publications
Establishing Land Use Protections for Farmers' Markets (Public Health Law & Policy, 2009)
Establishing Land Use Protections for Community Gardens (Public Health Law & Policy, 2009)
Land Use and Farmland Conversion (Agricultural Issues Center, U. CA, Davis, 2003)
Conservation Easements (MO Ag Law Center)
Right-to-Farm Statutes and Nuisance Theory Tort Lawsuits (MO Ag Law Center)
Agricultural Sustainability and Smart Growth: Saving Urban-Influenced Farmland
(Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Liveable Communities, Thompson, 2001)
Managing Space to Manage Growth (Washington U. at St. Louis, School of Law, Mandelker)
Agricultural Zoning (OH St. U., Hudkins)
Purchase of Development Rights (OH St. U., Daubenmire and Blaine)
Additional Resources
Urbanization and Agriculture Posts (United States Agricultural & Food Law and Policy Blog)
Land Tenure Center (U. WI)
American Farmland Trust
Land Trust Alliance
Farmland Information Center
Land Use Law Center (Pace Law School)
