E-M:/ Good Farmland Protection Resource

Farmland Protection Web Site Expanded
Landowners, agricultural professionals and citizens concerned about the loss of agricultural land now have easier access to assistance, thanks to an expanded Farmland Information Center (FIC) Web site www.farmlandinfo.org. The FIC is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and American Farmland Trust.

FIC maintains an ever-growing collection of state laws, reports and other literature relating to farm and ranch land protection. It also offers an "answer service" to provide direct technical assistance by phone, e-mail and fax. In addition, the FIC staff monitor and report on farmland protection activities around the country, and identify, acquire and develop new materials.

According to Jennifer Dempsey, assistant director of American Farmland Trust's Technical Assistance Services, the new format makes it easier to find the materials people typically request about the loss of farmland and its consequences. These include sample ordinances and documents from successful initiatives around the country, and fact sheets and articles that convey basic information about farmland protection approaches and the consequences of the loss of farmland. The FIC also is available by calling (800) 370-4879.