Posted by Casey Williams on October 17th, 2008

Farmland loss is a pressing issue facing us today, but sometimes we forget to appreciate what we have and what we are working for. Virginia, with its thick forests and rich farmland, is truly a green state—just take it from a bird’s eye view. According to a new study commissioned by the state and conducted by the University of Virginia, more than 80 percent of the state remains green. That’s 21 million acres of forests, crops and pasture, not counting forested parkland or public open spaces. 

Virginia is a top producer of tomatoes, apples, poultry and grapes. Farmers play a big part in Virginia’s economy: they provide delicious and fresh food and can play an important role in cleaning up the environment. Agriculture and forestry churn $79 billion into the state’s economic engine, and provide jobs for half a million people. That’s one in 10 Virginia jobs. 

It’s imperative that we continue to develop strategies to save Virginia’s farms and forests, especially when we see figures like the latest: Virginia has lost more than 300,000 acres of farmland in the last decade. Bundoran Farm presents a market based solution to preserving more than 2000 acres of forest and farmland in southern Albemarle County. In addition to preserving the function of these valued resources, conservation buyers at Bundoran Farm are enabling the protection of this scenic landscape in perpetuity.  

For more information about the recent UVA study: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/24/ap5465785.html

Filed under: Agriculture, Bundoran Farm Events and Occasions, General, Nature/Environment