Investors who nothing about farming are increasingly buying farmland to round out their portfolios.
"Here in the heart of the Corn Belt, a majority of the folks who own farmland are not themselves farmers.
...Advocates for family farmers warn that if outside investors continue tobuy up land, it could have profound effects on rural America.
...Already, there are fewer and fewer families to anchor the vast fertileplains of the Midwest. One farmer today takes care of as much ground aseight or 10 farmers did a generation ago. When that farmer has no stakein the land or the crop, he has less incentive to tend the groundcarefully, to preserve its resources and habitats."
Thanks to The Practice of New Urbanism Listserv
FULL STORY: City Dwellers Plow Money Into Farmland
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
End Human Sacrifices to the Demanding Gods of Automobile Dependency and Sprawl
The U.S. has much higher traffic fatality rates than peer countries due to automobile dependency and sprawl. Better planning can reduce these human sacrifices.
Seattle Transit Asked to Clarify Pet Policy
A major dog park near a new light rail stop is prompting calls to update and clarify rules for bringing pets on Seattle-area transit systems.
Oregon Bill Would End Bans on Manufactured Housing
The bill would prevent new developments from prohibiting mobile homes and modular housing.
Nashville Doesn’t Renew Bike Share Contract, Citing Lost Federal Funding
The city’s bike share system, operated by BCycle, could stop operating if the city doesn’t find a new source of funding.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
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Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions