Agriculture Land Preservation
Analyses of the soils of central Ohio reveal that most of the region has, or had, “prime farm land”. There is a broadening demand for agriculture products that include fuel as well as food. There are regional economic benefits to continue to use land to produce crops and other agriculture commodities. Ohio is limited in farm preservation regulations, however funding was allocated to purchase agriculture easements as part of the Clean Ohio Fund. Some counties such as Fairfield, Madison and Knox have made concerted efforts to promote farmland preservation, make use of state programs, and utilize local zoning tools.
Partners in Agriculture Land Preservation
- Agricultural Easement Purchase Program
Part of the Clean Ohio Act passed in 2001 and up for renewal, this program allotted $25 million toward purchasing agricultural easements from willing land owners. Since 2002, 13 properties in central Ohio have been purchased for a total of 2,700 acres for over $4 million. This represents 11 percent of the total acreage purchased through the program and 14 percent of the funds. - County Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Each county has a professionally staffed office that is charged with providing assistance to residents, landowners, and communities with their natural resources conservation needs. They are affiliated with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Soil & Water Conservation, and funded by county and state taxpayer monies. A list of all county websites is available through the OASWCDE website. - Ohio County Cooperative Extension Offices
The Ohio Cooperative Extension Office is part of the Ohio State University. Each county has a branch office. The county websites can be accessed through the main website listed above.
These offices provide educational opportunities and community planning services. - Ohio Department of Agriculture
The Ohio Department of Agriculture is located in Reynoldsburg. They administer several programs for promoting Ohio agriculture.
