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THE COUNTY ECONOMY
PLANNING ISSUE
Agriculture and agribusiness
are important parts of the
county’s economy, but new
suburban development may
threaten this way of life.
Farmers will need to adjust to
new trends to stay current
with these changing times.
What’s New
•
A heightened interest in purchasing local and /or
organic products have given a boost to several farming
trends over the last ten years. Community supported
agriculture (CSA, a program in which consumers pay
an advance monetary share to a farm or group of farms
in exchange for produce during the growing season)
and organic farming have both increased in popularity
in Montgomery County, with more and more farmers
turning to innovative ways of connecting with
consumers while making a living off of their land.
Restaurants like Trax Café in Ambler and
supermarkets like Wegmans or Acme have also shown
an interest in providing local products to patrons.
•
Between 1997 and 2007, the DVRPC region
(including Philadelphia and 8 nearby counties) lost
92,286 acres of farmland, a 20.8% loss that is well
above the national 3.4% decrease in cropland and
pastureland.
•
The county has lost many farms and farmers over the
past six decades because of new development, higher
operating costs, and volatile markets. In 1950, the
county had a total of 2,802 farms across 161,000
acres, more than half the county’s total area. In the
most recent census, from 2007, the county’s farm total
was 719 farms with 41,908 acres in farming. The
Census of Agriculture is scheduled to be updated for
the year 2012.
Jobs of County Residents
Jobs in the County
County Businesses
Downtown and Main Street Areas
Office, Industrial, and
Brownfield Areas
Retail Commercial Areas
Tourism
Agriculture and Farm
Preservation
Employment Forecasts and
Economic Trends
Agriculture and Farm Preservation
Farming and farm preservation are key components of the
county’s rural landscape. Farming provides many benefits
to the county, such as jobs, fresh food, and open space.
Farmland Preservation
Act 43 of 1981 paved the way for farmland preservation to
happen across the state. In 1990, the county created an
Agricultural Land Preservation Board, and the farm
preservation program was born. Through a combination of
state, county, and municipal efforts, there are 146 preserved
farms across more than 8,600 acres in the county as of 2012.
In short, the owner of a preserved farm accepts a
conservation easement on his or her property that prohibits
development and non-farming activities in exchange for a
payment and continued ownership of the farmland.
Preserved farms produce fruits, vegetables, feed crops,
livestock, and other horticultural products, including
Christmas trees and apples.
Other Farm Programs
Other efforts exist to help farmers protect their farms:
•
The USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service
(NRCS), which gives technical assistance to reduce soil
erosion and water quality impairment.
•
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which helps
farmers with the financial assistance provided by the
federal government under its Farm Bill. FSA programs
encourage environmental stewardship and protect our
county’s agricultural and natural resources.
•
Penn State’s Cooperative Extension, which provides
research-based information to the community,
particularly about agriculture and consumer living.
•
The PA Department of Agriculture, which oversees the
state’s Agricultural Security Areas (ASAs), the first step
towards farmland preservation. Created by Act 43 of
1981, joining an ASA is voluntary but gives farmers
special consideration from state and local governments
as well as protection from nuisance challenges and (to
some extent) eminent domain takings.
