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U.S. is losing farmland fast as development spreads

AFT estimates the country is giving up 40 acres of farmland and ranch land every hour to new development, which adds up to about 24 million acres converted since 1982.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Industry

LandThink says America’s farmland is being steadily reduced by development as urban sprawl expands into cropland, pastureland, rangeland, and timberland. The outlet notes this threatens the long term agricultural land base that supports U.S. food production.

According to the American Farmland Trust, the U.S. is losing 40 acres of farm and ranch land every hour to new development, or about 3 acres per minute. LandThink also cites that since 1982 the country has converted 24 million acres of agricultural land to developed uses.

An informal online survey highlighted by LandThink found 39% of respondents view urban sprawl, residential development, and loss of agricultural land as the biggest threat to the future of agricultural land ownership. The survey also put government regulations and environmental policy restrictions in a close second at 23%.

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