BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON -- In the past 20 years, rapidly growing Butler County has lost 30,000 acres of farmland to residential, commercial and industrial development. To slow that loss, Butler County's agricultural extension agent and a local agricultural group want county commissioners to appoint a task force dedicated to the preservation of farmland.
"Our farmland is fast disappearing," said Judy Proeschel, vice president of the Butler County Farm Bureau Federation Inc. "I'm not against development. But as long as we have the need to eat, it's important to preserve farmland."
Thursday, county commissioners told Mrs. Proeschel and Steve Bartels, the county agricultural extension agent, that they would consider appointing the task force.
That group would oversee land sold or donated for agricultural preservation.
But the program depends on the Ohio House's approving a proposed bill that would enable the state to receive federal funds for agricultural preservation. The Ohio Senate has passed the bill, and the Ohio House may vote on it this fall, Mr. Bartels said.
"The county has no money to buy easement rights," he said. "I don't want the task force to come here later and pressure us for money."
Looking out for owners
Combs and Commissioner Mike Fox said they want to preserve farmland, but don't want to infringe upon the rights of property owners.
"A farmer who worked hard all his life may want to sell his farm for development and retire to Florida," Mr. Combs said. "Who are we to stop him from doing that?"
function of the task force would be to survey the county's farmers and find out what they want to do with their property, Mr. Bartels said.
the past 20 years, the amount of farmland in Butler County has shrunk from 181,000 acres to 151,000 acres, Mr. Bartels said.
are 910 farms in the county, but only 500 to 600 of them are full-time operations, he said.
The others are small farms that produce less than $10,000 in annual income, he said.
"We're not for no growth," Mr. Bartels said. "But we want controlled growth."
