Mid-Atlantic Planning for Agriculture

Planning for Agriculture supports local and regional governments in integrating agriculture into land use planning. American Farmland Trust believes that working farms and farmland are as important to communities as other land uses, so we must plan to ensure their future. Planning for Agriculture creates a framework to protect and retain agricultural land, promote sound environmental stewardship of agricultural land, and sustain agricultural viability for current and future generations.

From the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains, nearly 40,000 farms support Virginia agriculture and the abundant economic, environmental, and cultural benefits it provides. But Virginia’s farms face an uncertain future. Escalating land values, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, volatile weather, and other forces threaten farmers’ livelihoods and the agricultural landscapes they maintain. The “Planning for Agriculture in Virginia Toolkit” is meant to help local leaders, planners, conservationists, concerned citizens, and farmers ensure there is a vibrant future for agriculture. 

American Farmland Trust offers our deepest thanks to the following advisory committee members who gave so much time, energy, and insight to this effort.  

• Melissa Allen, John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District  

• David Blount, Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions  

• Detrick Easley, Halifax County 

• Katelyn Jordan, Virginia Farm Bureau  

• Joe Lerch, Virginia Association of Counties 

• Ann Mallek, Albemarle County  

• Elli Travis, Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement  

• Stephen Versen and Lyndsie Young, Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission  

Community support for farms is vital to their success. Use this checklist to gauge local support for agriculture in your area.