Oct. 11 — We must protect farmland now

The Puyallup valley began as a farming community. The rich soils surrounding the Puyallup River have sustained life for more than a century; first, as pioneers coaxed bountiful harvests from the ground that fed whole communities, and now, as new settlers from Seattle flock to this region in search of affordable housing and yards where their children can safely play. If the tradition of farming can survive in the Puyallup valley through this new century, even on a much smaller scale, it will take the coordinated and determined effort of farmers, citizens and governments. East Pierce farmlands are currently disappearing at the rate of about 900 acres per year. Some of the richest soils in America are being paved over for housing developments, shopping centers and industrial parks. If this trend continues, our farms will disappear completely by the middle of the century.

Some people are fighting back. The Pierce County Council has established a Farm Board and a Farmbudsman to address the threats to farmers. They are adopting programs that allow the transfer or purchase of development rights, essentially allowing farmers to benefit from the value of their land without giving up the land itself. A developer can purchase these rights to create greater densities elsewhere, thus relieving the pressure on farmland owners to convert working farms into yet another subdivision.

Citizens and the council are also working on compromise plans, such as the Alderton-McMillan plan, which attempts to balance the preservation of farmland with the need to plan for inevitable growth over the next 20 years. Not everyone believes this plan adequately protects valuable farmland between Sumner and Orting, and the amount of farmland that would remain if the plan is enacted remains unclear.

One thing is clear: if we value our agricultural heritage in the Puyallup valley, we will eventually have to say no to urban sprawl.