Small Town News

State placing smart bet on agriculture

---

Delaware's Markell administration sent a huge message last week about its commitment to the future of agriculture. Gov. Jack Markell announced that $10 million of unanticipated revenues will be tunneled into the farmland preservation program. Of that, $3 million will be available for a new program to assist young farmers to purchase land necessary to begin a career in farming. One of the principle stipulations is that the farmland purchased with state assistance be placed in the state's farmland preservation program for permanent agricultural usage. The minimum-sized parcel for consideration by the state will be 15 acres. In a state where traditional farms often encompass hundreds and thousands of acres, some might question whether 15 acres is even enough to qualify as a farm. But for those who grow vegetables for the fresh market, 15 acres is a huge amount of land.

With the intensive farming methods being increasingly perfected around the world to feed the hungry mouths of a growing population, smaller and smaller parcels are yielding more and more.

Delaware's unique location in the center of the eastern seaboard places us in an advantageous position for reaching the markets of one of the world's great megalopolises. Young people in educational programs at the high school and college level, through programs such as that announced last week, will be able to apply their learning with hard work to meet a growing demand for fresh, regional food. The rest of the world pays much more of its annual income for feeding families and there's every reason to believe that trend is also coming our way.

By virtue of our geography and location, Delaware has excellent, well-drained farmland. Our annual average rainfall of 43 inches provides a reliable source of water for irrigation when the need arises.

Delaware's farmland preservation program -the most aggressive in the nation - and this new incentive for young farmers represents a sustainable economic driver for now and in the future which will assure we all have good food to eat, produce to sell and an enviable quality of life. Sussex County, in particular, is well-situated to benefit mightily from these initiatives.





© 2011 Cape Gazette Lewes, Delaware. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Cape Gazette