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Streamlining the 10-year-old program* that compensates farmers for idling^ and controlling erosion on our mos£ erodible cropland, could free up sore-I ly needed funds. " «
But many policy-makers seent unwilling to bankroll protection mea-£ sures. Most U.S. representatives an<£ virtually all senators have not signeda letter supporting FFA. Funding hasdried up in states such as Rhod^Island and New Hampshire, whichonce had aggressive programs to buy easements. ~
Legislatures in Michigan and Kentucky, after receiving recommend dations from their respective governors to fund farmland protection, are struggling with funding. Even inPennsylvania, which has one of the country’s most ambitious farmland protection programs, 127 application^ to sell easements are pending in onC Philadelphia-area county alone. “
The public will support farmland protection. Last summer, PeninsulaTownship, Mich., residents voted to" fund a new purchase of agriculture conservation easement program, ot PACE, and protect the agricultural land of farmers like Walter Johnson. "
Many Lancaster County residents also value their agricultural resources' which supports their thriving tourist industry. I
“If we had diamonds in this area/we would be mining diamonds,” say£ Augsburger, the Lancaster farmer. “1C we had oil, we would be drilling. W£ have the best soil here, and peopliwant to build houses on it.” »
(Editor s Note: Ralph Grossi president of American Farmland Trust.) . ;
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