11/21/2002Sustainable Agriculture. 11/21/2002Sustainable Agriculture Impacts of Sprawl -NRI 87-92...

11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture

11/21/2002 Sustainable Agriculture

Impacts of Sprawl

-NRI 87-92 vs. 92-97 Conversions up from

1.2 Million Acres per year to 2.2 Million Acres per year

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National Map

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Conversions

American Converted 6,000,000 Acres from 92-97

(=~12Alabama Counties)

Conversions are a one time crop

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Alabama Map

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Alabama’s Standing

State ranks 13th in total conversions 87-92 130,000 Acres (26K/yr) 92-97 315,000 Acres (63K/yr)

State ranks 10th in Prime Farmland losses to development

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Top 20

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Growth Factors

Population Growth & Migration 0.96% population growth

Cheaper LandTransportation Corridor DevelopmentSpreading InfrastructureLarger Lots 2% / yr lot size

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Lot Size

1950’s Average < 1.0 acre / home site

1997 Average > 1.8 acres / home site

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Other Factors

Absentee OwnershipFarm Revenue decreasesOff farm employmentCheaper imports

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Cost of Community Services

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Services / $1.00 in Tax Revenue

CommercialFarm / ForestResidential

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Hidden Costs

Emergency response time increasesFire response time increasesInsurance (ISO) ratings decreaseSchool bus route time increases(Police response time decreased)

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Other Considerations

SmellDustSlow vehiclesChemicals

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Environmental Impacts

Farmland / Open land Storm water sponge Heat Island sink Air Quality buffer

All of these factors will have to be mitigated upon conversion

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Food Production

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Opportunity Lost

•Eco Tourism

•Heritage Trails

•MicroFarm Enterprises

•Anything other than Impervious Surfaces

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Help?

Land Trusts Up from 1 in the ’90’s to 7 in ’02

Farmland Protection Program $900,000

Forever WildThe Nature Conservancy

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Options

Brownfield redevelopmentGreyfield redevelopmentTax breaksMitigation Banks

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Sloss Phytoremediation

Paul KennedyUSDA-NRCS

205.251-8139 x135Paulk@cawaco.orgwww.cawaco.org