January-February 2002

Cover: To prevent the creep of urbanization into farmland, about 34 land trusts and open space districts have been pursuing agricultural conservation easements in California. While conservation easements have been used to protect natural resources for many years, the use of easements to protect agriculture is relatively new. The first land trust the nation specifically targeting farmland (Marin Agricultural Land Trust) was formed in California in 1980. In recent years, easements have grown in popularity as the preferred farmland preservation tool. The top portion of the cover illustration shows the 519-acre Cook property on Sonoma Mountain, where the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (SCAPOSD) purchased an easement that restricts future uses of the land to grazing and possible crop production. Top photo courtesy of SCAPOSD

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California Agriculture, January-February 2002

Volume 56, Number 1
Agricultural easements: New tool for farmland

peer-reviewed research articles

Agricultural easement programs: Saving agriculture or saving the environment?
by Alvin D. Sokolow , Cathy Lemp
pp9-14, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p9
Abstract
California has 34 local conservation organizations, land trusts and open space districts that seek to protect farmland through conservation easements. In an examination of their mission statements and interviews with managers, we found variations in the extent to which the same easements protect both agricultural production and natural resources. Because they frequently protect farm operations that involve intense cultivation, cropland easements tend to be seen as incompatible with natural resource purposes such as riparian areas, habitat, wetlands and recreational trails.
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Agricultural easements limited geographically
by Alvin D. Sokolow
pp15-20, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p15
Abstract
A review of conservation programs in the state shows that agricultural easements are concentrated in central coastal counties. Many of these counties, such as Marin and Sonoma, are not top agricultural regions, while some of the state's most productive agricultural counties have no easement programs at all. To date, there are approximately 120,000 California farmland acres in easements, nearly 80% of them grazing land and the rest in crops. Our review shows that state coastal conservation programs and sentiments among local populations are major reasons why easements are plentiful in some counties and not in others.
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Landowners, while pleased with agricultural easements, suggest improvements
by Ellen Rilla
pp21-25, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p21
Abstract
We extensively interviewed 46 landowners in two northern Bay Area counties and nearby Yolo County to assess their satisfaction with agricultural conservation easements. The landowners in most cases were enthusiastic sellers of the easements; their motivations included cash, keeping land in the family and conservation. They reported generally satisfactory experiences with the easement programs. To a lesser degree they expressed concerns about certain aspects of the easement process, especially negotiations and monitoring, and suggested ways that easement programs can improve their relationships with landowners.
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Central Valley leaders cautious about agricultural easements
by Alvin D. Sokolow
pp22-23, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p22
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Eradication costs calculated: Red imported fire ants threaten agriculture, wildlife and homes
by Karen M. Jetter , Jay Hamilton , John H. Klotz
pp26-34, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p26
Abstract
The red imported fire ant, a pest newly introduced into California, threatens households, agriculture and wildlife. This study estimates the costs and benefits of a public program to eradicate the ants. The results show that almost all agricultural activities would be affected should the ants become established; however, households would incur the majority of costs. The total estimated cost if red imported fire ants become established would be between $387 million and $989 million per year in California. Given current funding levels for eradication of red imported fire ants, for the expected benefits to be at least as great as the expected costs, the probability of successfully eradicating the ants needs to be at least 0.65% if the annual costs of establishment are $989 million and 1.67% if they are $387 million.
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Minimum tillage practices affect disease and yield of lettuce
by Louise E. Jackson , Irenee R. Ramirez , Israel Morales , Steven T. Koike
pp35-40, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p35
Abstract
Vegetable growers have been experimenting with reduced tillage practices to increase soil organic matter, limit compaction, and reduce fuel and labor costs. We studied soil properties of different tillage practices and compared deep minimum tillage (chiseling and ripping) with shallow minimum tillage for lettuce on a farm in the Salinas Valley. We found that periodic deep minimum tillage is recommended for long-term retention of semipermanent, raised beds in lettuce production. Over a period of several years, deep minimum tillage increased lettuce yield and decreased symptoms of lettuce drop disease, as compared with shallow minimum tillage. Continuous shallow minimum tillage, despite a trend toward higher active and total organic matter in the surface layer of soil, is best used with intermittent deeper tillage to avoid disease and yield losses.
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editorial, news, letters & science briefs

EDITORIAL: Agricultural easements: A farmland preservation tool
by W.R. Gomes
pp2, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p2
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Red imported fire ants discovered in Sacramento
Editors
pp4, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p4a
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Nonnative ants disrupt ecosystems
Editors
pp4, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p4b
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California a supercolony of Argentine ants
Editors
pp4-5, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p4c
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SOD found on UC Berkeley campus
Editors
pp5, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p5a
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Mondavi gift benefits UC Davis wine and food sciences
Editors
pp5, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p5b
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Introduction: California increases support for agricultural easements
by Robin Meadows
pp6-8, doi#10.3733/ca.v056n01p6
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