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Advisory committee pushes small-acreage farming program to preserve local farmland
Summary
Members proposed a small-acreage farming initiative to preserve 5–10-acre parcels and connect landowners with producers, NRCS grants and conservation-district programs. The committee suggested outreach, workshops and partnerships to build farmer capacity and market links (CSAs, farmers markets).
Committee members said Eagle has many small parcels that could be used for productive agriculture if landowners had technical and equipment support; members suggested conservation easements, a central equipment pool and partnership with the conservation district. "I think it's criminal that we're losing so much great farm ground to houses," a committee member said, arguing the city should prioritize programs and coordination to keep that land in production.
The committee discussed proven local workshops (small-acreage farming classes with Ada County Extension) and grant-funded outreach staff that could be used to seed a program. Members recommended inviting the conservation district (Jess) to present at the next meeting to explain how existing programs and NRCS grants could be used to support small-acreage farms.
