Editorial

Date: June 9, 2006

Account for agriculture in planning

Planning for agriculture is as important as planning for development. It creates a framework for an economically and environmentally sustainable agriculture industry. An effective plan includes land use policies and programs to keep land available and affordable for farming. Agriculture is our longest running industry in Washington County.

My farmer neighbors are losing 50 to 100 acres of rented farmland annually, to development. Some farmers have had to move to other counties because they can no longer make a living on the limited land available to them. If one of our major manufacturing companies was going to leave the county because they could not get affordable property to build a new plant, you can bet the county would be there to offer financial assistance. Our county has an obligation to support the farming industry that brings $600 million to our economy every year, just as it supports others.

The Purchase of Development Rights program will provide Washington County with a tool that will support the farming industry, protect an important natural resource and preserve the rural character that everyone can enjoy for generations to come. I support using 10 percent or more of our county sales tax dollars for PDRs. Our farmland is vanishing before our eyes. Let’s do something about it before it is too late.

Jeff Wenzel, Town of Jackson