Writer Biography

Audrey Benson is a sophomore at Utah State University. She is her parent’s favorite child by default, as she is the only one. Audrey loves being outdoors and is always ready for a vacation. She also enjoys helping her dad farm in the summers. She is a full-time student and is working towards a major in Biochemistry. 

This essay was composed in December 2022 and uses MLA documentation.

Audience: Residents of Urban-Sub Urban Areas  

WHEN I WAKE UP EVERY MORNING, I look out my window at green fields for as far as the eye can see. I can see the beautiful Wellsville mountains, and when I look toward Logan I can even see Utah State University up on the hill. This view is precious to me, and it is under attack. One day, I will see houses instead of mountains and green fields. The dirt road in front of my house will be paved, and the smell of fresh-cut hay will be replaced with car exhaust. 

Farming is more than just a way of life, it’s the foundation of our society. According to National Geographic, farming is, “the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops and raising livestock” (McDaniel et al.). Farming has been a part of human culture for thousands of years. It allowed our ancestors to retire from being hunter-gatherers, and settle down to form villages and communities. Eventually, these villages began trading with each other and developed the world’s first civilizations. As Earth’s population grew, more technologies were created, and now here we are in 2022. The entire world as we know it is all thanks to farming, so we have an obligation to be more careful with how the land is used and preserved.

Farmers today face many problems. Drought, pests, and equipment failure are common issues that farmers have learned to deal with and get through. One problem that is more challenging though is the rapid growth of development on agricultural land. According to Farm Journal, between 2001 and 2016 11 million acres of farmland were lost to development. According to Farm Journal, between 2001 and 2016 11 million acres of farmland were lost to development. If the trend continues, another 18.4 million acres will be lost between 2016 and 2040 which is about the size of South Carolina. With new opportunities to work remotely, the rate of development in rural areas could increase the loss to 24.4 million acres by 2040. This is quite concerning because as John Piotti, president of American Farmland Trust, says, “Nearly half of the conversion will occur on the nation’s most productive, versatile and resilient farmland”(Schafer). Farmers need quality land to produce viable crops. Losing this land cripples them even more, taking away space and productivity.  

So what is the driving force behind this loss of land? One main reason is the estate settlements of farm owners. When parents die, their children are usually left with an inheritance. For many people that includes money, a home, cars, or any other assets the parents collected over their lifetime. For farmers and ranchers though, their assets are land and machinery. As Bill Yarborough, agronomist with the North Carolina State Department of Agriculture, says, “Most people in America have some kind of retirement plan and 401k plan. To a farmer, that is his land. It is their savings, and it is usually their bank” (Johnson). In past generations, the farm would be passed down to the sons, who would continue farming until it was time to pass the farm on to their sons. This tradition has been practiced for many generations, including in my own family. My great-great-grandpa began our family farm in the late 1800s, which he passed on to his son, who passed it down to my grandpa, who passed it down to my dad. The tradition is changing though, as more and more children are choosing not to farm. Farming is not easy work. It requires early mornings and late nights, and often working in extreme weather conditions. It is not a lucrative job either. Money comes from selling crops, and if any profit is made it usually goes into upgrading machinery, or buying seed for the following year’s crop. Many children these days are choosing to work in less labor-intensive occupations, leaving the farmer with no one to pass his farm on to, which is a tragedy in and of itself. As Yarborough continues to say, “Most farmers dread the day they have to sell their land. Most never do. They leave it to their children and they sell it” (Johnson). When the estate is settled, some children may choose to keep the land, but most have no use for it and would rather just have the money so they sell it for development.  

Now you may be wondering why they don’t just sell it to another farmer. Land is a valuable asset, not only for farmers but for real estate too. How much land is worth depends on its location and what it will be used for. My family had a farm in Idaho that was not being actively farmed and consisted of rangeland and grassland. When we sold it, the average cost per acre was $750. Dry farmland, land that gets moisture solely from what falls from the sky, can cost around $1000 an acre. My dad recently bought a piece of irrigated farmland, land that is watered by sprinkler pipe, at a cost of around $12,000 per acre. Land watered by sprinkler pipe costs more because you get better crops with better access to water, so dry farmland is usually less valued than watered land. $12,000 per acre sounds pretty expensive, but not in comparison to land sold to be developed into homes or other buildings. One of the irrigated fields that we farmed, which we didn’t own, was sold a few years back for almost $90,000 per acre. That is a 650% increase in price, just because it was sold for a different purpose. For people who inherit land they don’t want to farm, it is simply a no-brainer to sell to a developer for the highest price. With less financial incentive to preserve the land, it is being lost.

Preserving farmland should be a concern for everyone. In the most recent election, citizens of Cache County were approached with the idea of the Cache County Open Space Bond. The issue is that the general public does not value or is indifferent to preserving farmland. According to their website, the bond will provide money for “the purposes of protecting scenic vistas, preserving open lands near valley gateways, adding trails and trail connectivity, and maintaining agriculture, waterways, and wildlife habitat” (Cache). This is a fantastic way for Cache Valley to engage in protecting farmland and other open space from developers, but the proposition barely passed with only 54.61% of people voting in favor of the bond (2022). This raises the question: how much does the public actually know about the importance of farmland? Research shows many organizations are focused on public outreach to increase public awareness of how to use land and develop it efficiently. Cathy Lennon, Ontario Federation of Agriculture general manager, explains,  “We know we need affordable housing, and jobs…but let’s not take really productive farmland out of business. Look around, there are areas in most towns and cities where brown fields can be redeveloped. It’s going to cost more, but it’s the cost of preserving farmland. If the average citizen understands that, politicians are more likely to get public support for this approach” (Anderson). If what Lennon says is true, then the issue is that the general public does not value or is indifferent to preserving farmland. According to research and personal experience, there are four main reasons why the general public should appreciate farmland: food stability, economic value, environmental quality, and community well-being. By learning why farmland is important, we can all work together to create responsible land use policies and practices.  

Food comes from farming. Everything we eat, fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, and grains, all come from an agricultural source. According to Nate Lotze of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, “Twenty percent of the food Americans eat comes from other countries” (Lotze). Some of these imports are foods that cannot be grown in the United States, like coffee beans and bananas, but others are foods that we can grow ourselves. Depending on other countries for our food supply is risky and can lead to sudden and devastating food shortages. One example of this is the food crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. Ukraine is a huge agricultural country, one of the top 5 producers of grains, sunflower seeds, and sunflower oil. In the summer of 2022, Russian blockades made it impossible for Ukraine to export any of its grain supplies. In order to have food independence and stability, we must have enough space to grow our own food which can be accomplished by preserving farmland. According to Cary Fowler, U.S. Special Envoy for Food Security, “What Russia with its invasion and blockade has done has essentially sealed up 20 million metric tons of grain”(Inskeep). Many of these exports go to countries in Africa, which for some countries supplies around 80% of what grain they have (Inskeep). Food was already an issue for many of these African countries before the war. Now even more people are at risk of starving because their grain source is temporarily unavailable. This example illustrates that food independence is key to having a stable food supply. If the United States loses more farmland and imports more food, we could potentially find ourselves in a similar situation to the one happening in Africa. In order to have food independence and stability, we must have enough space to grow our own food which can be accomplished by preserving farmland.  

Another benefit that farms provide is economic stability. Farms contribute a significant amount to the American economy, both directly and indirectly. According to Nate Lotze, “The output of America’s farms accounts for $177 billion of the GDP; combined with agriculture-related industries, the total is nearly $1 trillion” (Lotze). Farms also support the economy through taxes. Everyone pays taxes to the government each year, contributing funds for public services like schools, police, and roads, just to name a few. According to a study by American Farmland Trust, “Agricultural lands on average receive only $0.37 in public services for every dollar they contribute; housing developments, on the other hand, receive $1.16 in services for every dollar they contribute” (Lotze). Based on this information, farmland provides extra money necessary to pay for the public services that people depend on. Local governments can’t afford to increase development without planning. Atlanta, Georgia, and Portland, Oregon had the same population growth rate from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. The city of Atlanta grew 50% in size, whereas Portland, which had a growth management law in place, only grew 2%. As a result, Atlanta raised property taxes by 22%, while Portland lowered property taxes by 29% (Why). The city of Atlanta had no plan for preserving farmland, which resulted in not enough government funding. This lack of funding made it necessary for the city to increase property taxes on commercial property, whereas Portland was able to decrease commercial property taxes because it planned ahead. By preserving farmland, cities can lower tax rates and increase the local economy.  

Farmland also supports environmental quality. When farmland is developed, it takes away the earth’s natural water filter: soil. When soil is replaced with houses and roads, water runs straight into drains which take water to a chemical treatment facility, instead of letting nature clean the water itself. Water from developed areas is often more polluted as well, with things like road salt, oil from leaks in cars, lawn chemicals, and septic leaks which can contaminate groundwater supplies. All of these combined can lead to contaminated rivers and poor drinking water quality (Why). Farming also supports the environment through biofuels. Unlike fossil fuels, biofuels are fast to make and environment-friendly. Agricultural waste, animal waste, and oilseed crops can be used to make methane gas and ethanol. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Production and use of biofuels is considered by the U.S. government to have fewer or lower negative effects on the environment compared to fossil-fuel derived fuels” (Biofuels). By making biofuels, the United States can reduce the impact of carbon emissions on the environment, and become energy independent instead of relying on other countries for fuel. In order for the United States to have enough crops to make this biofuel, there must be enough farmland to produce it. By preserving farmland, we can decrease our carbon emissions and improve water quality throughout the entire country.

Preserving farms can also have a positive impact on the community. Courtney Flint from the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University conducted a study involving four cities from Cache Valley to investigate the relationship between a community’s overall well-being and its relationship with nature. She found that “Natural landscapes such as mountains, rivers, trails, city parks, lakes, and farmland were found to have highly positive impacts on wellbeing.”(Flint). She also found that those who had a stronger connection with nature had a higher personal well-being score and stronger community connection. At the end of the survey, respondents had the option to leave additional comments on how they felt about open space. Many comments mentioned how they loved Cache Valley for its farmland and nature and were disappointed to see it being swallowed up by development (Flint). Many people move to Cache Valley because they love the small, rural feel. There are many other rural communities that have that same feeling. In order to save the character of these towns we need to protect farmland from development. By saving farms and farmland we can preserve community character and keep community well-being high.  

We can’t stop development. The world’s population is constantly growing. More people will need houses and more businesses will require spaces to operate. Community awareness is the key to preserving farmland. Understanding the importance of keeping farmland undeveloped and all of the financial, environmental, and community benefits it provides gives the public power to make better decisions about their communities by planning for growth, adopting preservation-friendly policies, and using the land accordingly. Farmers need support from people like us to advocate for better planning and resistance to unnecessary development. Together, we can all plan for a better, brighter future for us and our children, and that begins with saving farms.

Works Cited

“2022 General Official Results – Summary Report.” Cache County, https://www.cachecounty.org /assets/department/clerk/2022%20GENERAL%20OFFICIAL%20RESULTS%20-%20E LECTION%20SUMMARY%20REPORT.pdf. Accessed 30 Nov. 2022.

Anderson, Frances. “Preserving Farmland Requires Policy and Public Awareness; OFA Wants to Speak Directly to Ontarians to Ensure they Understand Farmland’s Importance.” Ontario Farmer, Oct 19, 2021. ProQuest, https://login.dist.lib.usu.edu/login?url=https://www. proquest.com/magazines/preserving-farmland-requires-policy-public/docview/25832538 51/se-2. Accessed 16 Nov. 2022.  

“Biofuels explained.” U.S. Energy Information Administration, 13 Apr. 2022, https://www.eia .gov/energyexplained/biofuels/biofuels-and-the-environment.php#:~:text=Production%20 and%20use%20of%20biofuels,to%20fossil%2Dfuel%20derived%20fuels. Accessed 5 Dec. 2022.  

“Cache Open Space.” Cache Open Space, https://www.cacheopenspace.org/. Accessed 21 Nov. 2022.

Flint, Courtney. “Cache County Wellbeing Survey Findings: Highlights on Nature, Environment, Landscape, and Growth.” Utah State University, Sept. 2022, https://static1.squarespace .com/static/62ffe41603787a0e6a272d8b/t/6334711da3a80c34c05b61e3/1664381216052/ Cache+Valley+Cities+from+Wellbeing+Survey+2022+%281%29.pdf. Accessed 21 Nov. 2022.

Inskeep, Steve. “Ukrainian grain is arriving in East Africa for the first time since Russia invaded.” NPR, 31 Aug. 2022, https://www.npr.org/2022/08/31/1120223535/ukrainian -grain-is-arriving-in-east-africa-for-the-first-time-since-russia-invad#:~:text=Ukraine%20 is%20one%20of%20the,80%25%20of%20what%20they%20have. Accessed 2 Dec. 2022.  

Johnson, Becky. “Farmers increasingly feel forced off their own land.” Smoky Mountain News, 14 Jun. 2006, https://www.smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/13365-farmers-incre asingly-feel-forced-off-their-own-land. Accessed 11 Nov. 2022.  

Lotze, Nate. “Why Preserve Farmland?” Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, 2017, https://cons ervationtools.org/guides/147-why-preserve-farmland. Accessed 2 Dec. 2022.

McDaniel, Melissa, et al. “The Art and Science of Agriculture.” National Geographic Society, 27 Jul. 2022, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/agriculture. Accessed 30 Nov. 2022.  

Schafer, Sara. “Surface Pressure: U.S. Losing Farmland at Alarming Rate.” Farm Journal, 29 Jul. 2022, https://www.agweb.com/news/business/farmland/surface-pressure-us-losing farmland-alarming-rate. Accessed 2 Dec. 2022.  

“Why Save Farmland?” Farmland Information Center, American Farmland Trust, 1 Jan. 2003, https://s30428.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/Why_Save_Farmland_1-03_1 .pdf. Accessed 11 Nov. 2022. 

Revision Notes

I found personal experiences to be most effective in my essay. Including my personal experiences gave me credibility and also allowed me to give an example of how this issue plays out in the real world. Some of the things I tried explaining were a bit complicated, so bringing in examples and personal experience helped clear it up I thought. I also tried to include lots of statistics and info to support the claims I was making. I think adapting this to a persuasive type essay would be more effective since I was just doing a value argument. In the paper I was mostly trying to persuade people to value farmland, so persuading instead of arguing might be more effective. I had never thought about national security relating to saving farmland, but I found a source that said depending on other countries is risky because we could be cut off from food, and I found that really interesting so I made it one of my main points in the essay. I also thought it was interesting how farms played into community well-being and character. It validated my feelings when I saw that lots of people from the valley had the same opinion as me in regards to farmland enhancing the beauty of where we live, so I made that another main point in my essay.