Thesis
Farm landowner choices in the current use program in Clark County, WA
Washington State University
Master of Public Affairs (MPA), Washington State University
2015
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101295
Abstract
Farmland is a finite and irreplaceable natural resource. Its preservation is important to our health, economy, and environment. Urbanizing areas are particularly susceptible to losing farmland under pressures from development. Clark County in southwest Washington is an example of a historically large commercial agricultural area that is quickly becoming urbanized and where agriculture is moving from large-scale commercial operations to smaller, direct market farms. This study surveys direct market farm landowners to examine their participation in the Current Use program, which is a farmland preservation program that provides tax relief as incentive to keep the land in agriculture. This research identifies areas of improvement to increase enrollment of these types of farms and determines its effectiveness at preserving farmland in this changing landscape. The study finds that although farmland characteristics have shifted, the Current Use program works effectively for direct market farm landowners and the majority of these landowners are content with the program structure and benefits it provides. Moreover, this study implies that the insecurity or volatility of farming is at the center of most concerns with landowners when considering enrolling in the program and increased local support for farmers is a greater need than changes to the Current Use program.
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Details
- Title
- Farm landowner choices in the current use program in Clark County, WA
- Creators
- Denise Smee
- Contributors
- Paul Thiers (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Public Affairs (MPA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525083401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis