Farmland & Open Space in New Jersey Sprawl development poses a serious threat to our agricultural lands. Between 1992 and 1997, the U.S. lost more than 6 million acres of farmland to low density development such as shopping malls and housing subdivisions, according to the American Farmland Trust (www.farmland.org/farmingontheedge/major_findings.htm). They also say that America loses a further two acres of farmland every minute of every day. Our agricultural lands must be preserved as a vital component of sustainability. In addition to feeding and clothing us, farmland provides open space, food and habitat for diverse wildlife, and maintains a link to our nation's agricultural heritage. New Jersey, like the rest of the country, is losing its farmland and open spaces at record rates. Suburban tract development, office parks, and commercial strips spread further into the open countryside every day, threatening water supplies, fragmenting wildlife habitats, "checkerboarding" farming areas. Unrestricted open land is growing scarce in New Jersey. Of our total land area of 4.7 million acres, approximately 1.5 million are urbanized. Approximately 1.1 million are now publicly owned or restricted by easement. Another 750,000 acres have been targeted for acquisition. According to a study by the Walton Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis (CRSSA) of Rutgers University, over 87,000 acres of farmland were lost in New Jersey between 1986 and 1995. This amounts to over 9,600 acres lost annually. Nearly 60 percent of that figure was attributed to farmland conversion into urban growth, over half of which was attributed to low-density rural residential development. In short, farming in New Jersey is threatened by suburbanization, primarily in the form of large lot housing with septic systems and private wells. (The full report can be found at www.crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/lc/urbangrowth/nj_urban_growth.pdf) Some analysts have estimated "buildout" of New Jersey's remaining buildable land in 30-50 years. And, as many cities, older suburbs, and small towns have deteriorated, so have their opportunities for the recreational open space that makes for a high quality of life. Despite this fact, however, farming continues to have a role in New Jersey's landscape. In some areas, agriculture continues in the traditional "production" model, characterized by extensive uninterrupted blocks of land, reasonably free of suburban growth. Elsewhere, smaller, scattered farms thrive on nearby suburban markets by selling vegetables or nursery stock. Additionally, New Jersey ranks as a national leader in land conservation. Almost a fifth of our state is publicly owned or otherwise off-limits to development. A second fifth has been targeted for conservation. New Jersey ranks first in percentage of the farmland base preserved and fourth in absolute numbers of acres. Public & Governmental Support for Preservation Public support for preservation is strong. In June 2000, New Jersey Future conducted a poll on a variety of smart growth issues and 76 percent of respondents disagreed with the statement: "We have plenty of farmland, so we can afford to lose some to housing developments." In 1998, by a 2-to-1 margin, voters approved preservation of one million additional acres by constitutionally requiring ten years of funding for that to acquire this land. The Governor's Council on New Jersey Outdoors had recommended the "million-acre" goal in its preliminary report in May 1997 when it called for preserving: 500,000 acres of farmland 100,000 acres of water resource lands 200,000 acres for greenways linkages 200,000 acres of recreational open space. The goal is ambitious, reflecting 21% of the state's land area. It would more than double the amount of preserved land, which totaled 19% of New Jersey's total land area in 1997. The Garden State Preservation Trust Act (Chapter 152, P.L. 1999) is the legislation that implements the public referendum. This statute provides the state's first stable source of funding for land preservation, and creates the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT) to manage it. The Act established a trust fund that receives $98 million annually for ten years to fund open space programs directly and/or services up to $1 billion in revenue bonds. The statute sets maximum annual spending limits of new funds, disbursed as follows: $120 million for Green Acres projects, $80 million for SADC Farmland Preservation projects, and $6 million for historic preservation. Other funds not subject to the cap include some $20 to $25 million in recycled loan funds (approved by earlier bond issues) as well as federal funds. The Act also directed the Trust to oversee the state's progress towards the million-acre goal. Additionally, the State, through its adoption of the State Development and Redevelopment Plan (SDRP), reflects government support for farmland conservation. The Plan recommends that growth be directed to places with existing infrastructure and more appropriate environmental conditions. The State Planning Act directed that the Plan "protect the natural resources and qualities of the State, including but not limited to agricultural development areas..." The new Plan, adopted March 2001, establishes the Rural Planning Area (PA4), which comprises 420,000 acres in agricultural production, two-thirds of the state's farmland.