By Andi Anderson
In the past two decades, Ohio has seen a considerable loss of its agricultural land due to urban development. According to a study conducted by Mujahidul Islam, Professor Ani Katchova, and Professor Emeritus Carl Zulauf from Ohio State University’s Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, between 2001 and 2021, Ohio lost 268,430 acres of farmland, representing a 2.04% decrease.
Of this loss, 48% is attributed to development, as more agricultural land is being converted into developed areas, particularly around major cities.
The research reveals that Ohio’s decline in agricultural land is consistent with the trends observed across eight other Midwest states, where the average loss due to development is 55%.
The study highlights that Ohio’s 14 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) were responsible for 78% of the state’s agricultural land lost to development.
Among these areas, Franklin and Delaware Counties, which are part of the Columbus MSA, experienced the highest losses, with 13,170 and 9,547 acres converted to development, respectively.
The City of Columbus saw the largest agricultural land loss within a 3-mile radius of its boundary, with 19,670 acres converted to development.
Other cities, including Toledo and Dayton, followed with losses of 1,976 and 1,901 acres within the same distance.
This report emphasizes the ongoing challenge of balancing urban growth with the preservation of farmland. As development continues, policymakers and communities must consider ways to protect Ohio’s agricultural heritage.
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Categories: Ohio, Business