Farmers gather to talk about land

USDA census figures show that Mahoning County had 73,400 acres of farmland in 1997 compared with 171,000 acres in 1950.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
CANFIELD -- "If you want to preserve Mahoning County farmland, do it now," Howard Wise, a state agriculture official, urged farmers Thursday.
Wise, executive assistant to Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Fred Dailey and executive director of Ohio Farmland Preservation, spoke at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm about Ohio's fledgling agriculture easement program.
Wise said United States Department of Agriculture census figures show of the 266,000 total acres in Mahoning County, 73,400 was in farmland in 1997. That's compared with 171,000 acres in 1950.
The same USDA report showed that of Ohio's 26.2 million acres, 14.1 million was farmland in 1997, compared to 20.9 million acres in 1950.
Ohio state officials began an agricultural easement program this year, allowing farmers to permanently designate their farmland for agricultural use.
Pearle Burlingame, organization director of Mahoning County Farm Bureau, said she organized Thursday's seminar on farmland use and preservation at the request of several Mahoning County farmers.
No local applicants
No Mahoning County farm families applied for the state's agricultural easement program in 2002, but if Thursday's attendance is any indication, that's not likely to happen again. Burlingame said the 70 farmers in attendance represented about 50 Mahoning County farm families.
Besides Wise, other state agriculture officials featured were Jill Clark of the American Farmland Trust and Larry Gearhardt of the Ohio Farm Bureau.
Wise said although the agricultural easement program is new in Ohio, it has proved to be effective in other states. He cited an example in New Hampshire where a farmer who received an agricultural easement later sold the property. The farmer specified he did not want any homes to be built on the property, and specifically did not want any development on the property frontage.
Wise said the new property owner chose to ignore the farmer's wishes and built a home on the frontage property. After a six-year legal battle, the case was decided by the New Hampshire Supreme Court, and the new landowner had to move the home.
What about Pa.?
Wise said neighboring Pennsylvania has had easement programs in effect for 15 years and leads the nation in agricultural easements with about 320,000 acres designated for agricultural use only.
"Legislators were worried Ohio farmers wouldn't be interested in easements, but I think we've pretty well smashed that notion," Wise said. "We were able to fund 25 easements. We got 442 applications."
Wise said he hopes there will be about $10 million available for 2003 easements. The application process will begin in March or April, so farmers should begin planning now to apply, he said.
Clark told the farmers that farmland protection starts with grass-roots efforts. Land decisions happen locally, with township trustees or county commissioners, she said.
She urged farmers to start a dialogue with local and state officials, their communities, neighbors and families and make their wishes known.
She said one of the best ways to preserve farmland is through good estate planning, including consulting accountants and attorneys. To protect farmland, farmers need to plan for a smooth transfer of property, even if it's to another family member, she said.
tullis@vindy.com