Nearly 1.6 million acres of farmland have been lost in Indiana and seven other Midwestern states since 2001, according to the University of Illinois’ Farmdoc Daily.
Development accounted for 55 percent of the farmland acres lost.
The states include Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
The National Land Cover Database says agricultural land in the eight Midwest states dropped from 150,312,467 acres in 2001 to 148,716,812 acres in 2021. That’s a total drop of almost 1.6 million acres. Of that number, 877,386 acres were converted to developed land, likely due to urbanization, infrastructure expansion, or other development activities.
Development accounted for the biggest loss in Iowa, totaling 90 percent of the lost farmland between 2001 and 2021.
Illinois lost the largest number of acres at 155,653. Almost 81 percent of lost land occurred there because of urban area expansion.
A report released in July by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture that showed just under 350,000 acres of farmland was lost in Indiana between 2010 and 2022.
“I would say the data is significant. In my mind, we should be concerned as Hoosiers,” says State Rep. Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer). “If ag is important to our communities, then I think we have to look at not only how can we protect the farmland, but how can we protect the farmer.”
Sources: NAFB News Service, Indiana State Department of Agriculture
