Only
a small fraction of the earth's land is suited for productive
agriculture. Thus, it is important that we preserve our existing
prime farmland.
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Not
all land is considered suitable for farming. Many areas are too
cold, too hot, or too dry. The soil may be easily eroded,
too acidic/alkaline, susceptible to flooding, and contain numerous
rock fragments. |
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Although
Pennsylvania is leading the way with farmland preservation,
numerous portions of Pennsylvania prime and important farmland
soils are converted to other non-renewable uses each year.
Between 1992-1997, it is estimated that Pennsylvania lost
134,900 acres of prime farmland! |
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In
the United States, approximately One-Million Acres of farmland
is lost to sprawling development. This
is nearly the size of Delaware!!
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~While some farms may have
historical importance, prime farmland is designated according
to the soil type. Thus, not all farms are located on prime
farmland and not all prime farmland has farms on it.
~In the United States, food supplies are abundant. While
decreasing the number of farms may impact the food supply
amount, it is unlikely that food shortages will arise.
~While
farmland provides habitat for many species, threatened and endangered
species are
typically associated with other disappearing habitats.
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What
you can do to help save farmland
Support your local farmers...Buy local
food .
Be active in your community. Contact your local zoning board
or planning commission to learn more. You
can influence decisions made in your community.
Contact your elected leaders. Let them know farmland is
important!
Protect your own land.
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Assume it
takes 3.25 acres of land to produce enough food to support
one person on a meat-based diet for one year.
~ How much land is needed to feed the current population?
~ How
might your answer change, if at all, if some people were
vegetarian?
Visit U.S.
Census Bureau: U.S. to obtain the U.S. Population Estimate.
Visit U.S.
Census Bureau: World to obtain the World Population
Estimate.
Repeat your calculations in 3 days. Make a table summarizing
your results.
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Consider the following statement:
Current agricultural
practices rely heavily on nonrenewable resources.
Discuss some of the reasons why this is true.
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Farmland
development
(pdf file)
A
slice of planet earth (pdf file)
Dig
In! Hands on Soil Investigation
Running
Out of Ag Land Save
our Land...Save our Town
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Email your
answer to pcee@sru.edu
Be sure
to include your name and the county you live in!
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Got
an environmental question in mind? Use our Submission
Form for the opportunity to submit your own question (and
answer)!
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