ion then has the right to restrict future land uses that may affect future agricultural use (“Purchase”1). The purchase of conservation easements is an effective tool that is also used by organizations attempting to protect ranchland and open space (Cooper871inb). A second tool used by land trusts, education, attempts to make the public aware of how urban sprawl is threatening farmland and why this threat must be stopped (“About”1). The last, and most important, way these organizations are protecting endangered farmland is by working with the government at all levels to form public policies dealing with the problems the farmers and farmland of this country are facing. Without the help of these organizations the average farmer would be powerless against wealthy land developers.Like many farmers, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., is against federal tax policies that are causing people to move out of cities and in turn “putting unnecessary and unwanted developmental pressure on farm and forest lands” (Cooper874a). Luckily, for farmers, state governments have enacted tax policies, known as differential assessments and circuit breakers, which are used to help make farming more economically feasible (Differential1). The differential assessment policy, which is considered to be the most important, allows farmers to pay land taxes based on it’s agricultural value rather than on it’s fair market value (the price a potential buyer would pay for the land) (Differential1). The circuit breaker tax program, which is currently used only in Michigan, New York and Wisconsin, gives farmers credit toward their state taxes for the local property taxes they pay; this program would also help farmers in western states and should be considered by those state governments (Differential1). These tax programs lower the operating expenses of farms, and therefore, help farmers to stay in business. Although they ...
