How much of our nations prime farm and forestland is being lost to urban sprawl?
Secretary Glickman: Well, every state in the U.S. has lost some of its best, prime land to urban development in recent years. A publication by the American Farmland Trust, based on data from USDA’s National Resources Inventory, reported that between 1982 and 1992 the United States lost nearly 14 million acres of land to development, 4.3 million of which was prime or unique farmland. Texas lost more than any other state–accounting for 11.5 percent of the total loss. Other leading states with farmland lost to urban development were North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana and California. Similar results have been found in studies completed of forestland ownership and fragmentation. Q: Why is this a critical issue, deserving of national attention? Secretary Glickman: Easy for many folks to forget is that farmers, ranchers and forest owners produce much more than food, paper and other commodities. As stewards of America’s land, they provide recreatio
