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SALINAS -- The State
of California today will recognize
Monterey County’s work to preserve
agricultural land with the Williamson
Act Stewardship Award.
“We applaud Monterey
County’s commitment to creating an
environment in which farming and
ranching can thrive,” said Bridgett
Luther Thompson, Director of the
California Department of Conservation.
DOC will present a
resolution commending the county’s
stewardship of the Act at the Board of
Supervisors meeting on October 4.
“Monterey County
appreciates this recognition from the
Department of Conservation,” Board of
Supervisors Chairperson W.B. “Butch”
Lindley said. “We are blessed with some
of the best farmland in the world, and
the Williamson Act is an important part
of maintaining our agricultural
heritage. Beyond that, the residents of
Monterey County, as well as the many
visitors we get from around the world,
value our unique ambiance and our open
space, and the Williamson Act helps
maintain that atmosphere.”
Through its Division
of Land Resource Protection, DOC
administers or supports a number of
programs designed to promote orderly
growth in coordination with agricultural
endeavors. That is a critical job, since
the population of California is expected
to grow from its current 38 million to
55 million by 2025, and the need for new
homes will put strain on the nation's
leading agricultural economy, valued at
$33 billion last year.
One of the key tools
available for land conservation planning
is the Williamson Act, which provides
tax incentives for landowners that keep
large tracts of land in agricultural or
open-space use. The law has been widely
credited with discouraging ``leapfrog''
development, and more than 16 million
acres – half of the state's agricultural
landscape -- are currently enrolled in
Williamson Act contracts.
As of the 2004-05
fiscal year, Monterey County had 767,084
acres of land enrolled in the Williamson
Act, including 59,254 acres of prime
farmland. Monterey County produced more
than $3.3 billion worth of agricultural
products in 2002-03.
"The Williamson Act
has proven itself a powerful tool for
the protection of agriculture,” said Bob
Perkins, Executive Director of the
Monterey County Farm Bureau. “It
provides economic certainty for farmers
and stability in land-use planning. As a
voluntary, contract-based program, it is
a model for cooperation between
government and farmers. The Farm Bureau
is committed to guarding the integrity
of the Williamson Act.”
The Monterey County
Vintners and Growers Association (MCVGA)
also expressed its appreciation for the
county’s recognition.
“The preservation of
prime agricultural land is one of the
keys to success in our industry and also
to our fellow agriculture partners,”
said Scott Storm, President of the
Monterey County Vintners and Growers
Association. “Great wines come from
premier grapes grown on the proper
farmland. As the local wine industry
continues to gain momentum and garner
accolades, we are sensitive to
preserving the land that our high
quality grapes are grown on.”
Said Dennis O’Bryant,
head of DOC’s Division of Land Resource
Protection: “Monterey County has made a
determined effort to do things right in
terms of administering the Williamson
Act. That takes political courage and
leadership.”
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