In "Farmers Fear Loss of Tax Breaks--and Land," Susan Sward looks at the impact of the state's budget crisis on a little-known, 45-year-old program aimed at preserving California's ranches and agriculture. Here is a look at farmland lost to development from 1984-2008 in eight counties of the Bay Area and the acreage protected from development by the Williamson Act, which gives farmers and ranchers tax breaks to keep their lands from being developed. Total county acreage is in parentheses. (Source: California of Conservation’s Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program; other private, local and state government sources).
Ranking: No. 2 in loss of lands. It lost 43,282 acres, of which 27,660 was irrigated farmland and 15,622 was grazing land.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has more than 1,000 contracts covering 270,037 acres.
. benicia, ca.
Ranking: No. 2 in loss of lands. It lost 43,282 acres, of which 27,660 was irrigated farmland and 15,622 was grazing land.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has more than 1,000 contracts covering 270,037 acres.
Ranking: No. 3 in crop-grazing land lost. It lost a total of 41,616 acres, including 27,649 in irrigated cropland and 13,967 in grazing land.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has more than 45,000 acres in 391 parcels under the act.
. brentwood, ca.
Ranking: No. 3 in crop-grazing land lost. It lost a total of 41,616 acres, including 27,649 in irrigated cropland and 13,967 in grazing land.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has more than 45,000 acres in 391 parcels under the act.
Ranking: No. 5 among the eight Bay Area counties in agriculture-grazing land lost. The county lost 5,178 acres of irrigated farmland and 12,986 acres of grazing lands.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 331 contracts totaling 135,000 acres.
. livermore, ca.
Ranking: No. 5 among the eight Bay Area counties in agriculture-grazing land lost. The county lost 5,178 acres of irrigated farmland and 12,986 acres of grazing lands.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 331 contracts totaling 135,000 acres.
Ranking: No. 8, having lost the least agriculture-grazing land of the counties. It actually gained 126 acres of grazing land but lost 208 acres of irrigated farmland for a net loss of 82 acres.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 292 contracts covering 47,058 acres of agriculture.
. menlo park, ca.
Ranking: No. 8, having lost the least agriculture-grazing land of the counties. It actually gained 126 acres of grazing land but lost 208 acres of irrigated farmland for a net loss of 82 acres.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 292 contracts covering 47,058 acres of agriculture.
Ranking: No. 7 among the Bay Area counties in lost lands totaling 5,784. It gained 15,408 acres in irrigated croplands and lost 21,192 in grazing lands in 1984-2008.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 70,000 acres in 765 parcels – about 20,000 acres of that vineyards and the rest grazing land.
. napa, ca.
Ranking: No. 7 among the Bay Area counties in lost lands totaling 5,784. It gained 15,408 acres in irrigated croplands and lost 21,192 in grazing lands in 1984-2008.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 70,000 acres in 765 parcels – about 20,000 acres of that vineyards and the rest grazing land.
Ranking: No. 6 in lost lands with 12,405 gone – all of it grazing land in 1984-2008. The county actually picked up 167 acres of irrigated farmland.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 244 contracts covering almost 100,000 acres.
. Novato, ca.
Ranking: No. 6 in lost lands with 12,405 gone – all of it grazing land in 1984-2008. The county actually picked up 167 acres of irrigated farmland.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 244 contracts covering almost 100,000 acres.
Ranking: No. 4 in agricultural lands lost. It has lost 39,300 acres – 18,900 in irrigated farmland and 20,400 in grazing land.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 347,920 acres in more than 3,100 parcels.
. San Jose, CA.
Ranking: No. 4 in agricultural lands lost. It has lost 39,300 acres – 18,900 in irrigated farmland and 20,400 in grazing land.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 347,920 acres in more than 3,100 parcels.
Ranking: No. 1 in loss of agricultural lands. Though it picked up 19,126 acres in irrigated farmland, it lost almost 68,000 in grazing land – leaving it with a net loss of 48,766 acres in agricultural lands.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 295,000 acres in Williamson Act contracts with hundreds of farmers and ranchers.
. Sonoma, CA.
Ranking: No. 1 in loss of agricultural lands. Though it picked up 19,126 acres in irrigated farmland, it lost almost 68,000 in grazing land – leaving it with a net loss of 48,766 acres in agricultural lands.
Williamson Act protected lands: Has 295,000 acres in Williamson Act contracts with hundreds of farmers and ranchers.
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