US loses two acres of prime farmland each minute

The American Farmland Trust says the US is losing two acres of mostly prime farmland to development every minute. “We are consuming more land per person than at any time, in the most wasteful way,” said Trust President Ralph Grossi. More than half the farmland being lost is carved into 10-acre lots, according to the report, based on census data and Agriculture Department information. “We completely agree that 10-acre lots are an inappropriate use of land,” Clayton Traylor, senior vice president of the Home Builders, was quoted as saying in The New York Times. “We both want higher-density development and smart growth.” Farmland is disappearing most rapidly on the outer edges of suburban areas. “It’s quality-of-life issue,” said Keith Collins, chief economist for the Agriculture Department. “Properly managed farms protect the urban watersheds, provide the visual amenity of open space, and protect the farmers who bring their locally grown fruits and vegetables to farmers markets.” Solving the problem would involve offering more easements for farms, spending more federal money to protect vulnerable farmland, and encouraging national standards for development, according to the Trust. The Home Builders disagree that the answer is more federal money to preserve farmland. Traylor claimed there is “a pervasive shortage of housing,” which should be combated by higher-density development in outer suburban areas that are now intent on attracting only wealthier homebuyers.