54 farms will be affected
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
In an effort to protect the most important industry in Ohio, the agricultural industry, the Ohio Department of Agriculture announced that local sponsors will buy agricultural easements in the state.
Agricultural easements preserve farmland, helping to keep the land active and producing food without pressure from developments. Easements are kept in place even if the owners of the land change.
In total, 54 farms, stretched across 7,512 acres and 26 Ohio counties will be preserved due to these easements.
For farms to qualify for the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program, they must be bigger than 40 acres or next to a preserved farm. It must be actively taking part in farming, participate in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation program, show good land stewardship and have local government support.
From 2002 to 2014, family farms in 53 of Ohio’s counties have worked together to preserve 45,576 acres in agricultural production. Other easements, as a result of other programs, increases the total number of acres saved to 55,947.
Any communities wishing to take part next year can apply to become a Certified Local Sponsor from September 15, 2015 to October 15, 2015.
The 2015 local agricultural easements approved for purchase are:
- Allen
- Ashland
- Ashtabula
- Brown
- Champaign
- Clark
- Clinton
- Fairfield
- Fayette
- Fulton
- Greene
- Hamilton
- Huron
- Lake
- Licking
- Logan
- Madison
- Medina
- Mercer
- Miami
- Montgomery
- Pickaway
- Preble
- Sandusky
- Stark
- Warren
Tell us your thoughts on Ohio’s local agricultural easements. What does it mean to you that these agricultural lands are being preserved?