The graph titled “Connecticut Farmland" shows the total acreage of land in Connecticut farms, as counted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The inventory is conducted every five years. The 2007 inventory is expected to show a loss of several thousand acres when the results become available in 2009. To preserve land for future agricultural use, the state Department of Agriculture purchases the development rights to farmland from volunteer sellers. This keeps the land in private ownership with severe restrictions on future nonagricultural development. After no farms were preserved in 2003, nine farms totaling about 1,100 acres were approved for preservation in 2004, six farms comprising 666 acres in 2005, eight farms comprising 968 acres in 2006, and 11 farms comprising 1,186 acres in 2007. Funds are mostly from state bonding and Public Act 05-228, the Community Investment Act. The latter is expected to generate up to five million dollars per year for agricultural programs including land preservation.

If the development and preservation rates of the last nine years continue, Connecticut will never meet its preservation goal. (The goal is based on the amount of land needed for food production needs, but non-food crops including potential biofuel crops could cause the goal to be raised.) Mathematical projections show the goal being reached in the late 22nd century, but by the latter part of the current century there will not be that acreage of agricultural land remaining in the state. Connecticut needs to achieve its goal of 130,000 acres preserved by 2050 or risk being too late. Preservation of 2,500 acres annually should result in success.