Effects of Urbanization on the Loss of Farmland at the Rural-Urban Fringe: A National and Regional Perspective

摘要

The paper investigates the relationship between urbanization and the loss of farmland for all counties that are included in Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States. Using regression analysis, it is found that not only does urbanization have an effect on the conversion of agricultural land to urban uses, but also urbanization does have a substantial effect on the idling of farmland on the rural-urban fringe. The ratio of farmland idled resulting from urban influences to farmland converted is estimated to be about one in the Northeast and one-half in the Midwest. Moreover, these estimates of the idled-to-converted ratio compare well with those obtained through a study of land use changes in three rapidly urbanizing areas in the Northeast and the Midwest.