INTRODUCTION
Agriculture in Hillsborough County is recognized as a significant contributor to the local economy. According to a 2005 study, agriculture and the businesses that support the industry have an annual economic impact of $1.4 billion, providing 20,122 jobs with $293 million in earnings.

In addition to the economic benefits, agricultural land, as a part of the open space and rural landscape contributes natural resource and quality of life benefits to the community. Farmland provides for wildlife habitat, wetlands, stormwater retention, aquifer recharge, connects environmentally sensitive areas, as well as serving as a buffer between urban and undeveloped areas.

The expected population growth in Hillsborough County will pose many challenges to the agriculture community. One such challenge is the premature conversion of agricultural land to other uses. This loss of productive agricultural land will have a negative impact on the long term viability of local agriculture.

The primary reason agriculture fails to compete with alternative land uses in urban/suburban areas is basic economics. Urban influences tend to increase production costs through increased regulations and competition for natural resources. Strategies to mitigate these negative impacts are necessary to help insure the future viability of the industry.

An agriculture industry that is both productive and profitable will ensure that the economic, aesthetic, and environmental benefits provided by agricultural open space will be maintained. The creation of an incentive based program to encourage the economic viability of agricultural land uses in the future is essential to the continuation of these benefits and to maintaining a balanced economy.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the Hillsborough County Agriculture Stewardship Program is to discourage the premature conversion of farmland by easing the financial pressures that cause some farmers to sell their land for non-agricultural development and to promote the agriculture industry by improving its economic viability.

SUMMARY
The Agriculture Stewardship Program is a vehicle to encourage the economic viability of agriculture by recognizing and rewarding the benefits or services that agricultural land provides to the community.

The Program is administered through an Agriculture Stewardship Program Agreement between Hillsborough County and an agricultural landowner. The Agreement prohibits the landowner from converting agricultural land to non-agricultural use for the term of the Agreement (10 years) which will commence on January 1 of the year following approval of the landowner’s application. The incentive to the agricultural landowner is in the form of an annual Agriculture Stewardship Grant. The amount of the Grant is based on a percentage of the ad valorem taxes paid to the County in the prior calendar year on the taxable value of land classified as agricultural by the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser and agriculture production related structures located on the land.

For more information regarding the Agriculture Stewardship Program, please contact Stephen Gran, Manager-Agriculture Industry Development, at (813) 272-5506.