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The purpose of the Farmland Preservation Program is to preserve the state’s agricultural land base, helping to ensure the continued viability of New Jersey’s agricultural industry. By the close of 2003, more than 1,000 farms totaling more than 120,000 acres had been permanently preserved statewide, providing not only a secure land base for agricultural operations, but also visual open space, aquifer recharge, and a host of other quality of life benefits not easily quantified in numbers or statistics. This is real progress in achieving the goals of the Agricultural Smart Growth Plan for New Jersey and Governor McGreevey’s Smart Growth initiative.

Of the approximately 1.7 million acres of remaining undeveloped or unpreserved open space in New Jersey, about 850,000 acres are actively devoted to agricultural production. Therefore, it is not surprising that New Jersey’s farmland is in high demand not only by developers but also by those seeking to preserve land for other than agricultural purposes. Under the current legislative allocation, the Green Acres Program receives 60% of the Garden State Preservation Trust's funding, while the Farmland Preservation Program receives only 40%.

In November 2003, the voters of the State of New Jersey supported an additional $150 million for the Green Acres Program and the Farmland Preservation Program. It is anticipated that about half will be dedicated for parks statewide, with the balance allocated to the acquisition of lands for conservation and farmland preservation purposes in the Highlands.

During 2003 legislative proposals were introduced that would reallocate funding away from the Farmland Preservation Program to the Green Acres Program. These proposals would severely impact New Jersey's efforts to preserve its agricultural industry and control sprawl.

Moreover, the preservation of farmland makes good economic sense. First, it helps preserve the state's agricultural industry, which contributes over $800 million in farmgate receipts annually. Second, preserved farmland is privately maintained, tax paying open space. The farm landowner maintains the land without assistance from the public sector and continues to pay taxes. Third, farmland is a positive tax ratable, requiring far less in public services than it generates in tax revenue. In contrast, residential development is a negative tax ratable – requiring more in services than it generates in tax revenue.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the delegates to the 89th State Agricultural Convention, assembled in Long Branch, New Jersey on February 3, 2004, support the permanent protection of New Jersey’s farmland through the Farmland Preservation Program a cornerstone of New Jersey’s Agricultural Smart Growth implementation efforts.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call upon the Governor, Legislature and Garden State Preservation Trust to recognize that the SADC has the jurisdiction and authority to coordinate and support agricultural preservation efforts statewide.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we strongly support the current Farmland Preservation/Green Acres funding allocation under the Garden State Preservation Trust Act.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we support and encourage the further development of the SADC’s Strategic Targeting Program to assist municipalities and counties in identifying and preserving the most viable farmland.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we strongly support the continued preservation of New Jersey’s unique Pinelands farms.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we strongly encourage the SADC to continue to use the most recent comparable sales available when conducting appraisals, thereby ensuring land value and encouraging landowners to participate in the program.