sustainable agriculture
DESCRIPTION
Sustainable AgricultureTRANSCRIPT
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Sustainable Agriculture
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Impacts of Sprawl-NRI 87-92 vs. 92-97Conversions up from 1.2 Million Acres per year to 2.2 Million Acres per year
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National Map
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ConversionsAmerican Converted 6,000,000 Acres from 92-97 (=~12Alabama Counties)Conversions are a one time crop
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Alabama Map
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Alabamas StandingState ranks 13th in total conversions87-92 130,000 Acres (26K/yr)92-97 315,000 Acres (63K/yr)State ranks 10th in Prime Farmland losses to development
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Top 20
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Growth FactorsPopulation Growth & Migration0.96% population growthCheaper LandTransportation Corridor DevelopmentSpreading InfrastructureLarger Lots2% / yr lot size
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Lot Size1950s Average < 1.0 acre / home site1997Average > 1.8 acres / home site
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Other FactorsAbsentee OwnershipFarm Revenue decreasesOff farm employmentCheaper imports
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Cost of Community Services
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Hidden CostsEmergency response time increasesFire response time increasesInsurance (ISO) ratings decreaseSchool bus route time increases(Police response time decreased)
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Other ConsiderationsSmellDustSlow vehiclesChemicals
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Environmental ImpactsFarmland / Open landStorm water spongeHeat Island sinkAir Quality bufferAll of these factors will have to be mitigated upon conversion
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Food Production
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Opportunity LostEco TourismHeritage TrailsMicroFarm EnterprisesAnything other than Impervious Surfaces
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Help?Land TrustsUp from 1 in the 90s to 7 in 02Farmland Protection Program$900,000Forever WildThe Nature Conservancy
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OptionsBrownfield redevelopmentGreyfield redevelopmentTax breaksMitigation Banks
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Sloss Phytoremediation
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Paul KennedyUSDA-NRCS
205.251-8139 [email protected]
That is all lands