Protecting America's farmland

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · EPA J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6243222

Temple, T

The National Agricultural Lands Study warns that measures must be taken to stop urbanization, highways, and Federal projects from encroaching upon prime farmland and to encourage construction on non-agricultural land. The report notes that since few environmental-impact studies assess the long-term effect on prime farmland, other tools are needed. Much of the new concern for the loss of cropland relates to the economic and political opportunites of food exports and the inflation that will result if farmland losses continue at their present rate. If world food trends continue, the US will need to convert 140 million acres of grazing land to crops and shift to confinement feeding for livestock. The report recommends that state and local governments adopt tax and zoning approaches to preserve farmland and that Federal land policies be monitored by an interagency group. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 6243222
• Journal Information: EPA J.; (United States), Journal Name: EPA J.; (United States) Vol. 7:4; ISSN EPAJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGRICULTURE
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
LAND USE
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
URBAN AREAS