Agricultural Land Lost to Development in the Midwest

Mujahidul Islam, Ani Katchova and Carl Zulauf

farmdoc daily, 2025, vol. 14, issue 144

Abstract: Conversion of agricultural land to developed land during the 21st Century in eight Midwestern states is examined. This loss of agricultural land to development is a long-standing topic of discussion at the national and state level. Using what is likely the best available data set, we find that development accounted for 55% of the 1.6 million acre loss of agricultural land in these states during the 21st Century. Thus, while urban expansion is important, loss of agricultural land is more than development. Within the context of conversion to development, the role of large urban areas is paramount as 81% of agricultural land lost to development in the eight states occurred within Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). If a desire exists to reduce the loss of agricultural land to development, expansion of large urban areas must be addressed.

Keywords: Agribusiness; Agricultural Policy; Farm Program Analysis and Outlook (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:illufd:358462

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.358462

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