Planning for Agriculture in Utah,
the Agriculture Sustainability Taskforce,
2011
Sponsored By Lt. Governor Greg Bell,
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food,
Utah Quality Growth Commission
Taskforce Facts
• Convened in May, 2011
• Will Finish in November, 2011
• Made up of Legislators, State Officials,
Producers, Local Government Officials and
others
• Staff provided by GOPB, UDAF
Number of Farms
30000
25000
20000
15000
Number of Farms
10000
5000
Source: USU Extension and USDA Census of Agriculture 1950,
2007
2007
2002
1990
1980
1970
1960
1950
1940
1930
1920
1910
1900
0
Size of Farm
900
850
Acres
800
750
700
650
600
1978
1982
1987
1992
1997
2002
2007
Average Age of Principle Operator
60
57.4
58
56
54.8
55.1
55.2
1992
1997
2002
53.7
54
52
51.9
52
1978
1982
50
48
47
47.6
46
44
42
40
1940
1950
Source: USDA Census of Agriculture 1950, 2007
1987
2007
2008 Baseline Report Land Use Highlights
• Over 1244 square miles of developed land in Utah.
– Average of 3.2 people per developed acre statewide*.
– Estimated will add up to 898 sq. miles of developed land
by 2030.
• Over 4321 square miles of agricultural lands.
– Estimated more than 310 sq. miles of agricultural land will
be consumed for development by 2030**.
– Most of these acres will be in the most populated areas,
where the best farmland is located.
*Developed Land includes commercial and industrial uses as well as residential
uses, the density for residential areas would be significantly higher than 3.2
people per acre.
**Assuming the people per developed acre remains the same.
Statewide Agricultural vs. Developed
Lands 2005
Estimated Statewide Agricultural vs. Developed
Land 2030
Developed
Developed
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agricultural Vs Developed Land by County in Utah,
WEBER
2005
WAYNE
WASHINGTON
WASATCH
UTAH
UINTAH
TOOELE
SUMMIT
SEVIER
SANPETE
SAN JUAN
SALT LAKE
RICH
PIUTE
MORGAN
MILLARD
KANE
JUAB
IRON
GRAND
GARFIELD
EMERY
DUCHESNE
DAVIS
DAGGETT
CARBON
CACHE
BOX ELDER
BEAVER
Developed Land 2005 (in square miles)
Agricultural Land 2005 (In square miles)
0.00
100.00
200.00
300.00
400.00
500.00
600.00
700.00
800.00
Estimated Agricultural Vs Developed Land by County in Utah,
2030
WEBER
WAYNE
WASHINGTON
WASATCH
UTAH
UINTAH
TOOELE
SUMMIT
SEVIER
SANPETE
SAN JUAN
SALT LAKE
RICH
PIUTE
MORGAN
MILLARD
KANE
JUAB
IRON
GRAND
GARFIELD
EMERY
DUCHESNE
DAVIS
DAGGETT
CARBON
CACHE
BOX ELDER
BEAVER
Developed Land 2030 (in square
miles)
0.00
100.00
200.00
300.00
400.00
500.00
600.00
700.00
800.00
900.00
Herriman,
Mid-1990s
GOPB
A Few Years
Later…
Herriman,
2006
GOPB
Southeast
Spanish Fork,
Mid-1990s
GOPB
A Few Years
Later…
Southeast
Spanish Fork,
2006
GOPB
Perry,
Mid-1990s
GOPB
A Few Years
Later…
Perry,
2006
GOPB
Santa Clara,
Mid-1990s
GOPB
A Few Years
Later…
Santa Clara,
2006
GOPB
Nibley,
Mid-1990s
GOPB
A Few Years
Later…
Nibley,
2006
GOPB
Contacts and Events
• Taskforce meetings, Sept. 20, 2011, Oct.18,
2011, Nov. 15, 2011. All at 4:00 PM
• Utah Intergovernmental Roundtable Summit
on “Planning for Agriculture,” Oct. 27, 2011,
8:00 AM, Salt Lake Hilton Hotel
• Utah Association of Conservation Districts
Conference in St. George, Nov. 3-4, 2011
• Contact: John Bennett, 801-538-1696,
[email protected]