RD143 - Annual Report on the State Agency Farm Land and Forest Land Preservation Activities


Executive Summary:
Section 3.1-18.6 of the Code of Virginia requires the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to submit a written report by December 1 of each year to the chairmen of the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources on the impacts of state agency actions on the conversion of farm and forest lands. The statute requires that the Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Department of Conservation and Recreation, State Corporation Commission, and Department of Environmental Quality contribute to this report.

The Department of Transportation's (VDOT) farm and forest lands protection plan remained unchanged from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004. VDOT purchased 599 acres of right-of-way during FY 03-04. Construction is scheduled to begin approximately six months to one year after purchase.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) estimates that 24,577 acres of additional farm and forest lands were permitted by VDH from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004 to receive land applied biosolids. VDH indicates that an estimated 48,500 acres of farm and forestlands were spread with biosolids during this period. This equals a total of 73,077 acres being preserved as farm and forest lands through their activities for fiscal year 2004.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) reports that the agency completed eight capital projects between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004. A total of 3.9 acres of total land acreage were converted for other use. Of that number, two acres of forest land was converted and no farmland acreage was converted.

The State Corporation Commission's (Commission) farm and forest lands protection plan was unchanged during fiscal year 2004. "The Commission has had no capital or major projects for some years, and none are anticipated." The Commission explains that it approves the construction of utility facilities and considers the impact of proposed facilities on farm and forest lands and their conversion in its analysis of environmental impacts.

The Department of Environmental Quality reports that from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004, the department coordinated the review of 95 state projects, each of which was reviewed by VDACS and the Department of Forestry. No adverse impacts to farm lands were identified by either agency.