California State Senator David Cortese has introduced bill SB 462 to increase funding for agricultural land preservation, particularly in the Bay Area, where development pressures threaten open spaces. The bill would provide $20 million annually to the California Farmland Conservancy Program, allowing landowners to receive compensation for agreeing to keep their land in agricultural use. This is crucial as California has lost over 4 million acres of farmland since 1997, with Santa Clara County facing significant risk of development. Proponents argue this move will boost food security, agritourism, and environmental sustainability.
The best part .. is that it's dollars going directly into agricultural preservation, bringing back opportunities from a nutritional, food insecurity, and small business standpoint.
Given the rising costs of land and high demand from farmers, the bill aims to nearly double the funding for agricultural conservation in California.
#agricultural-conservation #california-legislation #farmland-preservation #environmental-policy #food-security
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