According to new statistics released by American Farmland
Trust’s Farmland Information Center, the efforts of state
governments to protect agricultural land through purchase of
agricultural conservation easement (PACE) programs slowed during
2008, probably due to record high land values. PACE programs pay
farmers and ranchers to permanently protect their land with
conservation easements that limit future development and keep
the farmland available for agriculture. The survey of PACE
programs in 23 states found that states spent more than $336
million to protect 121,373 acres of farm and ranch land in 2008.
Although states spent 14 percent more than they did in 2007,
they protected 28 percent fewer acres, and acquired 33 percent
fewer easements. Next year’s news may be worse. Although land
values have dropped, the economic downturn and state budget
shortfalls have impacted funding for farmland protection, even
in states with typically well-funded programs. For example, the
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservati