if this means penalizing bad players. so be it.
this land is our land, and we need it for food.
State aims to protect Utah farmland
By Josh Smith
Deseret News
Published: Monday, Jan. 11, 2010 10:52 p.m. MST
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's agricultural land is disappearing at an "alarming" rate, according to state leaders who unveiled a proposal Monday designed to protect the state's food supply.
Under the plan announced by Rep. Jack Draxler, R-North Logan, some current tax revenue would be rerouted to help expand conservation easements in the state.
If adopted, the Agriculture Sustainability Investment Fund would provide further dollars to agricultural landowners who wish to continue production but are under pressure to develop the property.
Under the conservation easement program, interested owners may receive government compensation for their development rights in exchange for maintaining their lands for agricultural purposes, Draxler said.
Despite a lull in the housing market, farmers and ranchers across the state say they are under increasing financial pressure to develop or sell their land, and the proposed measure seeks to provide further incentive to preserve agriculture operations.
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