For Immediate Release
Contact:=20
Kate Smith phone (814) 863-8649
FAX (814) 865-3746=20
Scott Overholt phone (610) 683-1486
FAX (610) 683-1494
=20
November 12, 1996
New Book Warns Of Disappearing Farmland in Pennsylvania
Farmers and their Children Often Faced With Tough Sow or Sell Choices=20
in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas
The rich soils of Lancaster County, PA, allow farmers to produce more =
food per acre than any other non-irrigated county in the United States =
yet these same soils are being paved over so fast that 95% of the =
citizens of the region are concerned about the disappearance of farming =
in southeast Pennsylvania.
This is just one of the findings presented in a new booklet entitled =
"Beyond the Last Fencerow: The Future of the Food and Farm System in =
Southeast Pennsylvania."
The book is full of contrasts from bright to dark. For example, while =
consumers and voters are overwhelmingly in favor of preserving farming =
close to home, most farmers doubt their children will keep the land in =
cultivation.
When farms disappear, the region becomes more dependent on food from =
elsewhere, making it vulnerable to price and availability fluctuations =
due to things like energy costs, natural disasters and political events =
in faraway places.
"Beyond the Last Fencerow" was published by the Regional Infrastructure =
for Sustaining Agriculture project (RISA), and funded in part by the =
W.K. Kellogg Foundation and The Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
In the ten counties of southeast Pennsylvania, 42% of the states total =
agricultural production grows on just 16% of the state's farmland. Yet, =
this region is urbanizing rapidly, taking some of the nations best=20
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Rodale Institute News Release
November 12, 1996
Page 2 of 2
farmland out of production permanently.
"Agriculture provides food, jobs, and scenic open lands, yet these =
benefits are being lost," says Dr. Kate Smith of the Pennsylvania State =
University, one of the project leaders and authors. "The barriers to =
sustaining agriculture here are enormous." In addition to the lack of =
opportunity for young people in farming, the book discusses economic, =
land use and policy issues.
As the state's 1996 harvest season gives way to winter, we are reminded =
that southeast Pennsylvania is likely to lose 12,000 more acres of prime =
farmland to development - as it has every year since 1969.
Smith is hoping the book will inspire action in Harrisburg and =
Washington to help remove some of the impediments to profitable farming, =
as well as the incentives to sell to developers. Even the inheritance =
tax can keep an aspiring young farmer from taking over the family =
business.
But getting the consumers of the area to think about the food system in =
their state is just as important, according to Smith. "People can vote =
with their ballots and their dollars to support agriculture close to =
home," explains Smith. "Losing more farms isn't something people would =
let happen, if they had a chance to think about it."
The 31-page booklet was co-authored by Smith, Janet Hammer and Jonda =
Crosby. It features original cover art by Berks County artist Karle =
Maurer, and is available at no charge by contacting Kathy Koehler at =
610-683-1400.
# # #
RISA was established with primary funding from the W.K. Kellogg =
Foundation. Its purpose is to promote regional cooperation among =
farmers, consumers, marketers, farm suppliers, policymakers, and =
technical support professionals that supports an economically and =
environmentally sustainable agriculture and food system in southeastern =
Pennsylvania.
Rodale Institute works with people worldwide to achieve regenerative =
food systems that renew environmental and human health. It is a =
nonprofit organization, tax-exempt under sections 501(c)3 and 509(a)2 of =
the IRS code. It is not affiliated with or a division of any for-profit =
corporation.=20