Farmer Intentions for Long Term Land Uses & Implications for Food Security Jessica Morgan Major: Economics Faculty Advisor: Dr. Constance Falk, Agricultural Economics

Purpose  Importing foods from around the world is not sustainable in the long term.  New Mexico is the state most heavily afflicted by food insecurity.  Encouraging local food production would benefit the local economy and increase food safety.

 Review of Literature  Methodology  Preliminary Results  Preliminary Conclusions Farmer Intentions for Long Term Land Uses & Implications for Food Security

Review of Literature  Food Security  Food Security Policies  Conservation Easements & Land Trusts

Food Security  The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization defines “[f]ood security [as] exist[ing] when all people, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life, ” (2009).

Food Security Policy: Belo Horizonte, Brazil  Beginning of the 1990s in the Minas Gerais state, Brazil 38% of the population lived below the poverty line 44% of children lived in poverty  The city government decided to address poverty & malnutrition by giving their citizens the right to food.  Results: One 6 month period, infant malnutrition in a sample group reduced by 50% In a decade, Belo Horizonte cut its infant death rate by more than 50% Today these initiatives benefit almost 40 percent of the city’s 2.5 million population

Food Security Policy: Alachua County, Florida  The Alachua County Hunger Task Force, created in 1995, set out to reduce hunger and eliminate barriers to food.  Results: Within 10 years, food stamp participation doubled within eligible population. Individual based initiatives  Eat Local Challenge  Orchard Program  Backyard Gardens

Food Security Policy: Oakland, California  On January 10, 2006, Oakland City Council passed a resolution to begin research in implementing a food policy.  The five goals of food security policy: food security urban agriculture and waste reduction economic development agricultural preservation public education and capacity building  Results: $50,000 allocated towards Oakland Food Policy Council Coordinator hired

Conservation Easements  Conservation easements an agreement in which landowners donate development rights to a land trust. provide tax breaks ensure no commercial development in future

Land Trusts  Land Trusts in New Mexico Southern Rockies Agricultural Land Trust Santa Fe Conservation Trust Taos Land Trust Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust Malpai Borderlands Group New Mexico Land Conservancy Over 12 million acres donated in NM  New Mexico Land Conservancy Only land trust operating in Doña Ana County 60,000 acres

Methodology  2,500 surveys with help of Elephant Butte Irrigation District  To date, around 200 surveys been received  105 surveys have been processed Frequency Analysis 4.2% surveys received

Farmer Perspectives on Future of Farming  Purpose Learn more about New Mexican farming operations and farmers’ hopes for future of agriculture  Majority of survey participants Small farmers (1-99 acres) Pecan producers Sell majority of product in Doña Ana County

Farmer Perspectives on Future of Farming What do you think would influence you the most to exit farming? 1=Very Influential, 2=Somewhat Influential, 3= Not Very Influential 4= Not Influential At All

Farmer Perspectives on Future of Farming What do you think would influence you the most to exit farming?

Farmer Perspectives on the Future of Farming Which of the following approaches seems the most useful in helping farmers keep their land in farming? 1=Very Useful, 2=Somewhat Useful, 3= Not Very Useful 4= Not Useful At All

Farmer Perspectives on the Future of Farming Which of the following approaches seems the most useful in helping farmers keep their land in farming?

Conclusions  Food Security Policy Could greatly benefit farmers & residents Las Cruces has established food sector, unlike other cities trying to establish food security policies  To obtain food security Need greater development of food sector Provide farmers information on existing policies helping keep farmland in farming Create incentives encouraging local buying

Acknowledgements  Honor’s College  Dr. Constance Falk  Elephant Butte Irrigation District  Gail Norvell  Antonette Sanchez