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Thanks to the internet, you can find statistics on farmland over the last 20 years.
In 2000, farmland represented 41.1% of the total land in the U.S. and in 2010 it was down to 39.8%. It was a drop of 1.3%, which doesn’t seem too bad until you realize that 29,420,000 acres of farmland was lost. From 2010 to 2020, the amount of farmland lost was 19,060,000 acres, a decrease of 0.82%. A little better, but still a concerning downward trend.
This downward trend did not start in 2000, but many years earlier. It did not go unnoticed by our elected officials. In 1982, the Ohio General assembly took action to help preserve Ohio farmland. They passed Senate Bill 78, which is commonly referred to as Ohio’s Farmland Preservation Act.
This important legislation created agricultural districts to promote the preservation of agricultural land. These ag districts are voluntary and can provide benefits to help farmers keep farming.
One of the benefits is you have a legal defense against nuisance lawsuits. Your agricultural operation is protected if it meets four criteria: it’s in an agricultural district; was established prior to the neighbors who are suing; the neighbors suing aren’t farmers; and the farm-related activities don’t violate any other laws and are done in accordance with acceptable
agricultural practices.
Another benefit deals with the deferment of development assessments until land is changed to non-agricultural use. When new water, electric, or sewer lines are added or extended, the cost is often assessed to the property owner based on their road frontage. These costs can add up quickly for a farmer. My family knows this scenario all too well. Years ago, when mud roads were being improved to gravel roads, Leroy-Thompson and Plank roads were targeted in the same year. My great-grandfather was a modest farmer, as most were at that time, and his farm was where these two roads met. The farm wasn’t large but did have considerable frontage on both roads. Because of this, the tremendous assessments that were levied upon him were more than he could financially and mentally handle. My great-grandma moved the four kids to Painesville and began teaching school.
If your land is in an ag district, this legislation places additional restrictions upon eminent domain actions. If more than 10 acres or 10% (whichever is greater) of any one property is proposed, the law calls for a review by the state director of agriculture to determine if an alternative is possible.
I wonder how this would have been applied when the Smallsreeds’ and many others’ farms were acquired through eminent domain for the creation of the Ravenna Arsenal?
The qualifications to be in an ag district are the same as for the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) program. You must have at least 10 acres used for agricultural production or activities for three years and have an average yearly gross income of at least $2,500 during that time period.
I hope you won’t have need for the added protection that being in an ag district provides, but if you qualify, why not participate?
The application for an ag district can be found on the county auditor’s website. Already in an ag district? Great, but don’t forget to renew this designation every five years. If you have questions, give us a call at our regional Farm Bureau office at 440-426-2195.
Submitted by Mary Smallsreed, a member of the Trumbull County Farm Bureau, who grew up on a family dairy farm in northeast Ohio.
OFBF Mission: Working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities.
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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