Farms and Historic Preservation:
Planning for an Agricultural Future
Gerry Cohn
American Farmland Trust
Organic Valley
© American Farmland Trust
American Farmland Trust

National non-profit organization, founded
in 1980. 50,000 members nationwide

Protecting working lands, planning for
agriculture, and keeping the land healthy

Education, policy advocacy, and land
projects

Farm Bill
© American Farmland Trust
Farming on the Edge
© American Farmland Trust
Why are we losing farmland?
Farm Economy
is changing
Greater
competition for land
Prices rising
Fewer Acres
Fewer Farmers
More residents,
more taxes
New residents,
new conflicts
© American Farmland Trust
Farmland Protection Toolbox
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Differential Taxation
Right to Farm Laws
Land Use Planning
Agricultural Protection Zoning
Conservation Easements
Purchase of Development Rights
Transfer of Development Rights
Agricultural Economic Development
Estate Planning / Farm Transition
Agricultural Districts
© American Farmland Trust
Planning for Agriculture,
not just around it!
Planning for Agriculture

Land use policies

Economic development
programs
FARMING IS A BUSINESS
© American Farmland Trust
Profitability is Key







Local foods
Grains and biofuels
Grass-fed meat
Recreation: hunting, meetings
Ecosystem services
New farmers: Farm Credit survey
Taking care of family needs
© American Farmland Trust
Local Government Tools

Comprehensive and Local FP Plans

Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances

Taxation

Right-to-Farm Laws

Agricultural Districts
© American Farmland Trust
Farm Transfer and Estate Planning

Transfer ownership and management of
the agricultural operation, land and other
assets

Avoid unnecessary transfer taxes
(income, gift and estate)

Ensure financial security and peace of
mind for all generations

Develop the next generation’s
management capacity
© American Farmland Trust
Planning for Conservation

Federal
 Leveraging $ into your community
 Farm Bill opportunities
 Alphabet Soup: Access thru local Soil and Water
Conservation District office
 Local foods, community food security, rural
development, etc.

State
 NC: Ag Conservation cost share, CREP, CWMTF
 Your State: ??
© American Farmland Trust
Buncombe County, NC

Cooperative Extension Sustainable Ag Agent

Blue Ridge Food Ventures

$2M annually for PACE

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation
Plan

City Market

Foodtopia

Farm Prosperity and Farmland Values Project
© American Farmland Trust
Carroll County, GA

Broad based partnership, led by Rolling Hills RC&D

Active participation in Comp Plan Update

Cotton Mill Farmers Market

Farmers Fresh Food Network

SPLOST referendum (3M for farmland)

Georgia Agricultural Land Trust

New growers school
© American Farmland Trust
Purchase of Development Rights or
Purchase of Agricultural Conservation
Easements

Land protection, liquidity, cash in-flow

27 state programs

56 local programs

Farmland Protection Program (federal)
© American Farmland Trust
Farmland Protection Program (FPP)
•
Leveraging federal dollars for farmland
protection
•
USDA pays 50% of value. Landowner can
donate 25% of value. 25% cash match
required.
•
Funding increase from 97M in 2008 to
200M in 2012.
© American Farmland Trust
FPP Eligibile Lands

The farmland or ranch land must
contain at least 50 percent of prime,
unique, or locally important soil or
contain historic or archaeological sites.

Historic sites: must be listed in historic
register or formally be declared eligible.
© American Farmland Trust
Possible sources of funding
•
General obligation and special purpose
bonds
•
Annual appropriations
•
Real estate transfer taxes
•
Impact Fees
•
Present Use Value Program Rollback
Taxes
•
Transportation Enhancement Funds
© American Farmland Trust
Creative Funding Sources
•
Dedicated local sales tax
•
Farmland conversion mitigation fees
•
Cellular phone tax
•
Lottery proceeds
•
Motel/restaurant tax
•
Transfer of Development Rights
© American Farmland Trust
CT Trust for Historic Preservation

Barns Grant Program

75 percent cost-share, up to 8K

Conditions Assessment, feasibility study,
or historic registration

Funded by General Assembly
© American Farmland Trust
MA Community Preservation Act

Allows communities to collect a
1-3% property tax surcharge

Matched with state funds collected
through deed recording fee

Can be used for historic
preservation, land protection or
affordable housing
© American Farmland Trust
CT Community Investment Act

Statewide Deed Recording Fee

Funds state agency programs for
farmland preservation, historic
preservation, affordable housing,
and open space

Up to $20 M annually

Building new coalitions
© American Farmland Trust
KY Rural Heritage Development Initiative

Multi-year regional collaboration

Farmland protection, historic
preservation, agricultural economic
development


2006 Rural Resource Team – land use
planning, farm viability, reuse of old
buildings
Building new coalitions and putting the
pieces together
© American Farmland Trust
CROPP Cooperative - Organic Valley





National farmer cooperative - 1200
members
All certified organic dairy, eggs, meat,
juice, animal feed, and vegetables
All-farmer board and elected committees
Farmer-determined stable pay price
Organic transition and technical
assistance
© American Farmland Trust
Sign up for
AFT’s E-news and
Farm Policy News
www.farmland.org
© American Farmland Trust
FARMLAND INFORMATION CENTER
www.farmlandinfo.org
(800) 370 - 4879
© American Farmland Trust
Gerry Cohn
919-537-8447
gcohn@farmland.org
© American Farmland Trust