Title: Why Preserve Farmland? : ConservationTools
Headings: Why Preserve Farmland?
Why Preserve Farmland?
Introduction
Farmland Preservation Anchors the Farm Economy
Protects Our National Security
Supports Our Economy
Creates Jobs
Keeps Money in Local Communities
Provides Tax Revenue; Requires Little Government Service
Supports Agritourism
Delivers Ecosystem Goods and Services
Sustains a Tradition
Farmland Preservation Tools

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If the United States retains its best farm soils—if it refrains from building over its most productive farm lands, if it keeps sufficient capacity to feed its growing population—the possibility diminishes of shortages, conflicts, and crises that could result in untold human tragedy. This logic extends to the state and local level: if regions within America can develop their own robust agricultural systems, they are less likely to be damaged by turmoil elsewhere. National security requires fertile farmland—lots of it. Farmland preservation helps ensure this is possible
Supports Our Economy
The economic impact of agriculture on Pennsylvania and the nation is enormous. The output of America’s farms accounts for $177 billion of the GDP; combined with agriculture-related industries, the total is nearly $1 trillion. [ 8] The reach of this impact is broad: farms play a critical role in the economic lives of their employees, customers, and communities. They provide a variety of direct and indirect economic benefits, especially when compared to the alternative types of land use currently threatening productive farmland.