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

Content: 11]
Keeps Money in Local Communities
A growing number of farms—nearly 150,000 nationwide, according to the 2012 USDA census—offer food products to their local communities through farmers markets, CSA programs, farm stands, and other channels. [ 12] The shorter the distance between the farmer’s field and the customer’s plate, the less transportation and fewer intermediaries required. Therefore, a local food transaction benefits both the farmer and consumer: the farmer receives a greater percentage of the sale, while the consumer enjoys fresh food produced for its taste rather than its ability to endure weeks of transportation and storage. The money spent in the community stays in the community, circulating to other businesses that offer goods and services and create jobs. One study concluded that agricultural exports generate $1.70 of community income for every dollar of sales, while local sales can generate over $3.00.[13] Farmers markets, especially when located in a downtown area, can also have a spillover effect, boosting the sales of surrounding businesses. Pennsylvania is a national leader in direct-to-consumer sales, trailing only California and New York, and preserving farmland ensures the continued viability of local food suppliers in communities throughout the state. [ 14] Markets for locally produced food help sustain local economies, while enhancing opportunities for farmers to make a living and for consumers to buy fresh food directly from the people who produce it. Provides Tax Revenue; Requires Little Government Service
Only by considering both the local tax revenues generated by a land use and the local government expenditures necessitated by that land use can you identify the use’s overall impact on local government finances.