Workshops on Land Use and Farmland Policy

Workshops on Land Use and Farmland Policy

Summary

The objectives of this project were to:

1) Provide a training opportunity for Cooperative Extension and NRCS field staff in Ohio on the issues inherent in land use pressure at the rural-urban interface and policy options for guiding land use change in the interest of protecting farmland;

2) Provide them with information on how to determine land-use changes in their communities and what tools and techniques have been utilized to address these issues; and

3) Establish the basis for continuing informal involvement in land use policy discussions and participant-offered training of others as future needs arise.

With considerable stakeholder involvement, American Farmland Trust, Ohio State University (OSU) and members of the Ohio Advisory Committee designed and developed a series of five one-day workshops and training materials to empower OSU Extension, NRCS field staff and SWCD staff on land use management issues and farmland protection. The one-year project was pilot tested at five locations throughout Ohio. The quality of the materials, use of the Internet, involvement of farmers and broad spectrum of stakeholders involved in developing these workshops made this project unique in its efforts to address the growing need in our region for information on land use at the local level.

During November 1998 and June 1999, five workshops were held at various locations in Ohio. The total attendance was 173 people. Prior to each of these workshops, members of the State Advisory Committee met with local representatives of OSU Extension, NRCS and Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the region to discuss workshop content, speakers, location and date. While the specific content presented at each workshop remained flexible enough to allow for regional differences, each workshop covered the following four components: 1) Getting a Handle on the Question of Demographics; 2) Determining What The People Want; 3) Land Use and Farmland Policy Tools and Techniques; and 4) Putting It All Together.

This project was important not only because it provided traditional SARE PDP audiences with a better understanding of land use and farmland protection policy issues, but also because it provided them with the materials necessary to assist both farm and non-farm citizens in understanding how to sustain important agricultural resources. Workshop attendees have already held spin-off workshops in communities across the state and this workshop format was replicated for a half-day session targeted to Ohio county commissioners. In addition, the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts has sent a copy of the training workbook to each of their 88 county offices.

For more information:
Kevin Schmidt
American Farmland Trust
1200 18th St., NW
Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20036
202-331-7300 ext 3035
202-659-8339 (fax)
kschmidt@farmland.org