Last updated June 2009

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

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