Item 7. Farmland Preservation - Nov 2025 — original pdf

Backup

Investing in Farmland Preservation & Access in Central Texas Austin-Travis Couty Food Policy Board Commissioners Andy Smith, Matt Simon, Marissa Bell Food Access & Resilience Crisis Less than 1% of food consumed in Travis County is produced locally. More demand than supply - Central Texas’ production cannot realistically meet its total demand for food. When prices rise, local food becomes inaccessible for families and small businesses COVID-19 showed our fragile supply chain Local producers were more resilient and quick to respond. Sources: 2022, City of Austin, State of the Food System Report; Central Texas Food Bank, Central TX Food System Dashboard Farmland Access Crisis 2017 Total Acres 2022 Total Acres 5 year loss 2017-2022 Decrease Years until farmland is completed developed Travis 212,782 193,523 19,259 9.10% 50 Williamson 541,344 368,663 172,681 31.90% Hays  254,999 129,788 125,211 49.10% Bastrop 321,934 247,205 74,729 23.20% Caldwell 269,665 229,140 40,525 15.00% 11 5 17 28 Region 1,600,724 1,168,319 432,405 27.00% 13.5 Source: Central Texas Food Bank, Food Systems Dashboard Now is the cheapest and easiest time to break the cycle. Ripple Effects of Losing Farmland: Food System Resilience Less local food production capacity Water & Flooding Increased runoff, reduced aquifer recharge Remaining land becomes more valuable Climate Lost carbon sinks, more emissions from development Biodiversity Habitat loss and ecosystem function decline Local Economy Fewer viable farms, lost green jobs Farmland Preservation Supports Many City Priorities and Goals City Goal Area Alignment / Impact Reference (Plan & Goal #) Food Security Climate Action Preserves agricultural lands and expands regenerative food production, building local food system capacity. Austin-Travis County Food Plan — Goal 1 Protects carbon-rich soils and supports carbon sequestration on working lands. City Strategic Plan — CH3. Austin Climate Equity Plan — Natural Systems Goal 1 (Needs Support). Farmland Protection Advances target to protect 500,000 acres of farmland in 5-county region; currently off track. Austin Climate Equity Plan — Natural Systems Goal 2 (Off-Track) Watershed Protection Regenerative farmland increases infiltration, reduces runoff, and supports aquifer recharge. City Strategic Plan — CH3.2, CH3.3.2; Watershed Protection Master Plan Biodiversity Maintains wildlife habitat and soil biodiversity Resolution 20230126-054 — UN Biodiversity Framework Targets 1 & 3 Emergency Preparedness Strengthens local food supply and reduces reliance on distant supply chains during crises. City Strategic Plan — Resilience goals CH4 Open Spaces / Parks Supports parkland use for community agriculture, nature-based education, and food-based business incubators; aligns with parkland acquisition goals and strengthens agritourism and local markets. Our Parks, Our Future Plan — Goals 1, 2.3, 2.5, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 7.4 Austin-Travis County Food Plan: Food Plan Strategy 1.1: Preserve land for food production Mechanism Description Pros Cons Fee-Simple Purchase City buys land outright; can lease to farmers or partner with organizations Conservation Easement City buys development rights; owner retains property Land remains in agriculture; City controls use; Faster than easements; Supports local food economy & agritourism Cheaper than full purchase; Protects farmland in perpetuity; Leverages City/federal/private funds; Less administrative burden More expensive; Requires City expertise in agricultural land management & leasing Landowner controls operations; May not fully meet city objectives; Requires monitoring/legal oversight Land-Banking Purchase land to lease or sell in the future; can combine with easements or fee-simple Ensures long-term agricultural use; Flexible strategy; Potential revenue generation (lease or sell to recoup investment) Requires capital and management capacity Food Plan Strategy 1.2: Pursue capital funding sources, such as general obligation bonds, to fund the conservation of agricultural land. Source: 2024, City of Austin, Austin-Travis County Food Plan Austin already protects land for water, wildlife, and open space. The same tools can be used to protect land for food production. Water Quality Protection Lands Parks & Open Space 35,0000+ acres conserved for Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Protection ~15,200 acres of maintained parkland for recreation, resilience, and education. Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP) 13,800 acres preserved by CoA and an additional 19,400 acres held by BCP partners to protect endangered species Sources: (Austin Water, WQPL program, 2022; PARD, Our Parks, Our Future Plan, 2020; Austin Water BCP;) Case Study: Wilbarger Creek Conservation Alliance (WCCA) 1978: Jon Beall acquires Three Creeks Farm after military retirement 2011: Begins conservation easement discussions with Hill Country Conservancy NRCS Funding: $1M awarded through Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program (predecessor to Regional Conservation Partnership Program – RCPP) 2017 Easement Secured: with NRCS funds and matching funds from Travis County and others, the Wilbarger Creek Conservation Alliance protected 2,000+ contiguous acres of farmland. Ongoing Stewardship: Land leased to sustainable agriculture producers aligned with conservation goals. Meet our WCCA Farmers: The Refugee Collective Leased 20 acres since 2018 Employs refugees in fair-wage, dignified work Produces certified organic vegetables & eggs – 50,000+ lbs annually Employs 10 year-round staff, paying $300,000+ in full and part-time wages Implementing Texas’ first Resilient Farm Plan 1.2 tons/ac/yr of carbon sequestered, improving soil water-holding capacity (add’l 11 million gal of storage after 20 years), and improved wildlife habitat Meet our WCCA Farmers: Geosmin Regenerative Farm Leased 10 acres since Jan 2022 Mission: grow food that heals, educates, and builds community Produces 13,680 lbs pasture-raised chicken & 12,319 lbs eggs annually Employs 1 full-time + 1 part-time staff, paying ~$59,700 in wages Provides affordable land access, enabling new farmers to start operations Meet our WCCA Farmers: Hot Spell Farm Leased 2 acres since 2023, cooperatively-owned and operated Produces 10,000+ lbs of vegetables annually Including food for local school meal programs! 5 staff positions created Provides critical land access for new farmers, removing financial barriers to starting a farm. “It's hard to put into words how much this opportunity has provided me. I do not own land. I have a home in town. If I hadn't found Jon's land to lease - affordably and at a reasonable distance - I wouldn't be farming. There were no other options out there. I am insanely lucky.” - Geosmin Regenerative Farm ”The resource that Jon has provided all of us with is immeasurable. Land acquisition is an immense financial hurdle for up-and-coming farm businesses, either requiring prior wealth or committing to 5 or 6 figure debt. Our arrangement is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and without it, we would never have been able to start Hot Spell as a group of young people living in Austin.” - Hot Spell Farm Now Therefore Be it Resolved... Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: 20251020-05 Dedicate Funding: Make a one-time allocation of $15 Million in the 2026 General Obligation Bond to pilot a farmland preservation program Pursue Federal Funds: Leverage bond funding through applying for the USDA-NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Collaborate regionally: Form a broad regional collaboration among Central TX city/county governments and non-profit organizations to preserve farmland Utilize existing partnerships and programs: Work with Travis County’s Conservation Easement Program for the acquisition and administration of conservation easements Source: ATCFPB Recommendation 20251020-05