1Description

Comprehensive set of policies to support agriculture including:

  1. Lowering of property tax assessments for farmlands.
  2. “Right to farm” laws to protect farmers from neighbors’ nuisance suits.
  3. Special approval process to evaluate how new development will effect farm operations.

2Purpose

To preserve the cultural, visual, environmental and economic contributions of agriculture by making agriculture more competitive and protecting agriculture from encroachment.

3Issues

Communities are not mandated to preserve agricultural land and so community interest and willingness are required.

4Advantages

Can address issues beyond those that can be dealt with through land-use regulations.

5Links

State Programs and policies

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Gaining Ground Research Paper

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Useful Community Development Research Paper

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