Farmland Preservation Tools: Agricultural Security Areas
Vol. III, No. 83 - A look at a Special Agricultural Zone
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Today, our conversation picks up on another farmland preservation tool: Agricultural Security Areas. These special zones often called ASAs, are designed to protect farmland in Ohio’s rural communities. This program is entirely voluntary: farmers can choose whether they want to join or not. The state first created ASAs in 2005 and made some updates to the rules in 2008. The main goal is to give farmers peace of mind that their land can stay in agriculture and isn’t at risk of being taken over for other purposes like housing or shopping centers. ASAs are just one part of a bigger statewide effort to keep Ohio’s landscapes productive and green, alongside other tools like the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) tax break, agricultural districts, and conservation easements. Right now, there are 16 officially recognized ASAs in Ohio, covering over 16,000 acres of protected land.
To get an ASA approved, several requirements must be met. First, the land has to be outside cities or towns—that means it must be in the unincorporated areas of the county. Second, it needs to be at least 500 acres in one piece. Individual owners don’t have to have all the land themselves; several neighbors can combine their property to meet this size. The land also has to be used for farming, ranching, raising animals, growing fish, or processing farm products. Land is required to already be classified for tax purposes as CAUV, which means it is recognized legally as “used for agriculture” and gets special property tax rates.
The application process starts with a form provided by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. This gets sent to the Board of County Commissioners, and if the land is in more than one township or county, each local Board of Commissioners has to get a copy. The application asks for a lot of details: all owners’ names, anything affecting the property like mineral or oil rights, and a promise not to support new, non-agricultural development for at least ten years. Owners also have to say if they’ve had any environmental law violations in the past decade. Plus, they need a letter from the local Soil and Water Conservation office or the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service to show they’re using good farming practices. A map of the proposed ASA is required, clearly showing boundaries and nearby features.
Once landowners turn in these materials, the application is public, which means anyone can look at it. Local officials may charge a small fee to process the paperwork. If the ASA is approved, the landowners are making a firm promise: they won’t let their land be turned into anything besides farmland for at least ten years.
So why do landowners go through the trouble? There are real benefits. New barns, silos, and other farm buildings built inside an ASA may not be taxed as much, helping farmers expand without extra bills. The ASA does have some flexibility, though. Farmers can still build houses for family and request approval to operate certain other types of businesses. Wind turbines or gas wells are also allowed in some situations, as long as the land still qualifies for CAUV.
The ASA program is supported by Ohio’s Department of Agriculture, which gives advice to both landowners and local governments. Once a year, they release a report listing how much land is protected and where, plus details about tax breaks.
While ASAs help preserve farmland statewide, they can be a tougher fit in places like Miami County, where most farms are smaller than 500 acres. Large, unbroken fields that could qualify are already safe from development, so the practical benefit here isn’t as big as in busier counties. Still, for anyone serious about Miami County’s rural roots, ASAs should be considered as one useful option in the toolbox.
Agricultural Security Areas offer Ohio’s farmers the chance to keep their land growing crops and raising animals for the next decade and beyond. By giving farmers clear incentives and protections, ASAs help secure both livelihoods and the open landscapes that make rural Ohio unique. Even though they’re not perfect for every county, these programs play a valuable role in keeping Ohio’s farmland safe and productive for future generations.
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