Protected Farmland as Percentage of Protected Open Space, 1990-2000 Click graph to enlarge.

There are two ways farmland can be preserved in Rhode Island. One way is agricultural development rights: the owner of the land sells the right to develop the land to the state. The owner will continue to own and work the land, but he can never sell the land to be developed. Since the law was passed in the early 1980's, Rhode Island has preserved 3,311 acres of farmland in this way. The second method of farmland preservation consists of the land being sold or donated by the owner to the state for open space, wildlife conservation, or greenway use. The land may or may not continue to be used as a farm, but will be managed by the state with one or more of the above designations. The data that the DEM (see Division of Planning and Development) keeps of farmland shows that for every year over the past five years the amount of farmland (development rights plus purchase/donation) the state has preserved has increased. The percentage of protected open space that is farmland has not increased, however.

Uses of Rhode Island Farmland (Protected and Unprotected), 55,000 Total Acres (3300 Acres Protected, 51,700 Unprotected) Click graph to enlarge.

The uses of farms in the year 2000 is varied. Some land is used for pasture, some has grown up into forests on what was once farmland and which is part of a parcel with sections that are still farmed, and some is used as cropland. Of 55,000 total working farm acres in Rhode Island, 3,311 acres are protected with agricultural development rights (16.6%) (American's Farmland Trust).

Rural Character Main/Open Space Main/RI Indicators