Vermont farmers tell Senate ag panel VHCB funding keeps family farms and conserved land in production Farmers, land‑trust leaders and housing advocates told the Senate Agriculture Committee that the governor’s proposed $37.6 million for the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board is essential to conserve working farmland, keep small farms viable and enable intergenerational transfers.

Vermont farmers are rallying for $37.6 million in funding to protect their land and ensure the future of family farms—will the Senate answer their call?

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#VT #CitizenPortal #HousingSupport #FoodSecurity #VermontFarms #AgriculturalConservation

State farmland program offers tools and limited funds as Johnston County faces high conversion risk A state official told Johnston County commissioners that North Carolina ranks second in projected farmland loss and outlined tools — including permanent easements and a new Agricultural Growth Zone (AGZ) grant program — but warned demand far outstrips available state funding. Johnston County has six recorded easements totaling about 592 acres.

North Carolina is facing a critical farmland crisis, with alarming projections showing up to 1.6 million acres at risk of conversion—learn how counties can combat this loss!

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#JohnstonCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #SustainableDevelopment #AgriculturalConservation #FarmlandPreservation

Bay programs seek funding clarity as goal dates shift to 2040; Conowingo settlement and whole-watershed strategy questioned DLS told the subcommittee Maryland reduced nitrogen loads but will not meet the 2025 load target; the revised Chesapeake Bay watershed agreement extends the target period to 2040. DLS and legislators pressed agencies about the Whole Watershed Act's minimal agricultural project spending in selected watersheds and the Conowingo settlement funding and studies on dredging effectiveness.

Maryland is making strides in reducing nitrogen loads, but with the Chesapeake Bay's restoration deadline pushed to 2040, key funding questions remain unanswered.

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#MD #CitizenPortal #AgriculturalConservation #WaterQuality #EnvironmentalFunding #MarylandBay

VHCB tells lawmakers Vermont is losing farmland faster than projected; conservation easements, development-rights purchases cited as tools Vermont Housing and Conservation Board staff told a legislative committee Jan. 30 that modeling projects a loss of 41,200 acres of farmland by 2040 and that the state is losing land faster than expected; presenters highlighted conservation easements, development-rights sales and farm-transfer support as tools to keep land in agriculture.

Vermont faces an alarming loss of farmland, projected to vanish at a staggering rate—nearly 41,200 acres by 2040—unless innovative conservation efforts are ramped up now.

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#VT #RuralEconomicDevelopment #AgriculturalConservation #SustainableFarming #VermontFarmland #CitizenPortal

Mouser et al share their findings on the efficacy of #agriculturalconservation practices, which may be improved by promoting their continued use by landowners (i.e., persistence) after cost-share contracts with government agencies end. 🚜🌾

🔗: doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70201

#conservation #science

Maryland Farm Bureau Asks Public Service Commission to Halt Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project A contentious proposal to build a 70-mile network of overhead power lines across three Maryland counties has sparked concerns among residents, farmers, and environmental groups over its potential impact on the state's agricultural land and the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The Maryland Farm Bureau is now urging the Public Service Commission to halt the project, citing significant discrepancies in PSEG's original timeline for completion and ongoing opposition from stakeholders who fear that the lines could harm family farms and natural habitats, ultimately raising questions about whether the project is viable or just a recipe for disaster.

Maryland Farm Bureau Asks Public Service Commission to Halt Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project #PJM #FarmBureau #MarylandPiedmontReliabilityProject #PowerLineProtests #EnvironmentalImpact #AgriculturalConservation

Strategic Growth Council briefs applicants on AHSC, SALC, factory-built housing and TCC/CRC opportunities The Strategic Growth Council highlighted several active programs including the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Round 9, Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC), a factory-built housing pilot and forthcoming Transformative Climate Communities and Community Resilience Centers rounds tied to Prop 4 rulemaking.

California's Strategic Growth Council is rolling out new grants for affordable housing and farmland conservation—find out how these initiatives can transform your community!

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#CA #UrbanGreening #CitizenPortal #AgriculturalConservation #CommunityResilience

Georgia Ag Land Trust Promotes Conservation to Combat Farmland Loss in Madison County Denise Perry discusses agricultural conservation easements to protect farmland in Madison County.

Madison County is at a crossroads as officials tackle public criticism of services and the urgent need to protect our rapidly disappearing farmland.

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#MadisonCounty #GA #CitizenPortal #CommunitySupport #AgriculturalConservation #PublicServiceImprovement

Oconee County Council considers funding conservation easement for Keyes family farm Council evaluates conservation grant to preserve 553-acre Keyes family farm.

The Oconee County Council's latest meeting sparked a passionate call to protect the 553-acre Keyes family farm, blending agriculture with vital environmental conservation.

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#OconeeCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #AgriculturalConservation #CommunityEngagement #EnvironmentalStewardship

Using constructed value of information to evaluate research needs in conservation strategy assumptions Conservation professionals often consider causal assumptions that connect strategic actions to results. Uncertainty in agricultural conservation assumptions was evaluated on three constructed value o...

#Conservation professionals often consider causal assumptions that connect strategic actions to results.🌾Uncertainty in #agriculturalconservation assumptions was evaluated by Martin et al on 3 constructed value of information metrics: evidence, relevance, and reducibility. doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70080

Skagit County approves farmland conservation easements for Nelson and Ruzin properties Commissioners authorize $95,000 each for conservation easements protecting prime farmland.

Skagit County takes a major step in supporting vulnerable populations by approving a rental assistance program while also safeguarding its prime farmland for future generations.

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#SkagitCounty #WA #AgriculturalConservation #HousingSupport #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment

Utah House Committee Advances HB 253 to Support Agriculture and Veterinary Services Committee unanimously recommends HB 253, enhancing veterinary access and agricultural conservation in Utah.

Utah's House Health and Human Services Committee just took a major step forward by unanimously recommending a bill that promises to boost agricultural support and improve veterinary services across the state!

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#UT #RuralDevelopment #AgriculturalConservation #CitizenPortal