SR 5: Recognizing the importance of preserving agricultural land in the state.
00 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 5 01 Recognizing the importance of preserving agricultural land in the state. 02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE: 03 WHEREAS agricultural land that is currently under or has historically been under 04 agricultural cultivation, including land containing soil of local or statewide importance, is 05 essential for food production, supports rural livelihoods, and contributes to the long-term food 06 security of the state; and 07 WHEREAS the state's agricultural land plays a critical role in strengthening local and 08 regional economies by supporting farm businesses, related service industries, and 09 employment, while keeping food dollars circulating within local communities; and 10 WHEREAS farmland and agricultural open spaces generate more in public revenue 11 than those lands require in public services, helping local governments maintain fiscal balance 12 and reduce long-term infrastructure and service costs associated with dispersed residential 13 development; and 14 WHEREAS the preservation of agricultural land protects irreplaceable soil resources, 15 maintains open spaces, and supports water quality; and 16 WHEREAS the state's agricultural heritage and working lands are an important part
01 of the state's cultural identity, reflecting the stewardship, innovation, and self-reliance of the 02 state's farmers and ranchers; and 03 WHEREAS access to productive agricultural land is a foundational pillar of food 04 security, particularly in a state that relies heavily on food imports and is vulnerable to supply 05 chain disruptions caused by natural disasters, global market volatility, and the state's harsh 06 climate; and 07 WHEREAS recent disruptions to national and global food systems have demonstrated 08 the resilience of local and regional food production, underscoring the importance of 09 maintaining productive farmland near population centers and rural communities; and 10 WHEREAS agricultural land continues to be lost in the state to development, 11 fragmentation, and conversion to nonagricultural uses, particularly in regions with rapidly 12 growing populations; and 13 WHEREAS a 2024 study commissioned by the Alaska Farmland Trust found that, in 14 the Matanuska-Susitna Borough alone, approximately 3,076 acres of farmland, representing 15 11 percent of farmland in the borough, were lost between 2013 and 2023; and 16 WHEREAS the conversion of agricultural land to low-density residential and other 17 nonfarm uses permanently diminishes the state's agricultural production capacity and 18 undermines long-term food security and economic resilience; and 19 WHEREAS conservation easements, agricultural land protection programs, and 20 voluntary land stewardship tools, all consistent with private property rights, have proven 21 effective at keeping farmland in active agricultural use nationwide and in the state; and 22 WHEREAS maintaining productive agricultural land is in the public interest and 23 supports state objectives relating to economic sustainability, food security, natural resource 24 stewardship, and community resilience; 25 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska Senate recognizes agricultural land as a valuable 26 and finite public resource and affirms the importance of preserving state agricultural land for 27 current and future generations; and be it 28 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Senate encourages state agencies, local 29 governments, landowners, community partners, and state residents to support voluntary, 30 incentive-based efforts that conserve agricultural land, strengthen farm viability, and promote 31 continued agricultural use; and be it
01 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska Senate acknowledges the role and 02 importance of preserving agricultural land in enhancing food security, supporting local and 03 regional economies, protecting soil and water resources, and sustaining Alaska's agricultural 04 heritage.