Smart Growth, Farmland Loss & The Soul of the Community

An interesting report from American Farmland about the loss of agricultural land in the United States, mostly due to new development.

Despite a booming housing market during portions of the 25-year reporting period, the nationwide rate of farmland loss actually declined over time, thanks to growing awareness and smart growth policies that encourage more efficient development. And some states launched ambitious efforts to counter land development with permanent protection.

Although Wisconsin is not one of the states that lost the most farmland, the report indicates that Wisconsin, along with the upper midwest rustbelt states, lost more than average state.  As noted above, Smart Growth policies and efforts to protect farmlands have slowed the rate of loss.  Smart Growth has been opposed in some communities.  Farmers and pro-smarth growth advocates are probably keeping a keen eye on the changes that the incoming Walker administration may make that could impact sprawl patterns and farmland.

American Farmland suggested that people get involved locally, from working with the zoning boards and the planning commissions to shopping & dining locally through farmers markets, farm stands, dining locally, etc.  You know, get involved in your community..

In that vein, a foundation affiliated with a newspaper chain, Knight Foundation, teamed with Gallup to study the attachment people have to their communties, "The Soul of the Community".  Unfortunately, Milwaukee area is not one of the communities that has a Knight newspaper, but it's worth taking a look.

Surprisngly, money and the local economy isn't as big a factor as you'd think in the attchment people have to their community.   It may actually be the other way around-people's attachment encourages them to spend money locally, shop locally, be involved in activies, and be a driver of the economy.