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environmental quality because of its location, soils, climate or other characteristics. AFT said too much of this farmland now faces significant urban growth pressure and must be protected before it is lost forever. “
AFT further proposed the consolidation of environmentally sensitive farmland areas into a comprehensive environmental reserve. The reserve would proect such areas (wetland, highly erodible lands, stream corridors and the like) with conservation easements and other medium-and long-term stewardship agreements. AFT said the existing Conservation Reserve, Wetlands Reserve and Annual SetAside programs would form the basis for the new reserve.
More broadly, AFT called for additional incentives to help farmers conserve natural resources and protect the environment. Specifically, AFT wants to link farm programs benefits to the implementation of natural resource management plans. The plans would comprehensively address soil erosion and pest and nutrient management while taking into account the constraints of climate, land, markets and farmer needs. The plans also would provide farmers the tools to more efficiently address such issues as nonpoint source pollution and the protection of endangered species.
“For too long in agriculture, we have been content with defending the status quo,” observed Grossi. “We can no longer afford to do so. As discussions are initiated over the 1995 Farm Bill, the agricultural community should be challenged by the changing expectations of society as an opportunity to build new partnerships and create a new base of political support that could extend well into the next century.”
American Farmland Trust is a national nonprofit membership organization working to stop the loss of productive farmland and promole farming practices that lead to“ a healthy environment. AFT’s National Office is at 1920 N. Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036. \ '
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