farmland

Land preservation is important to the agricultural community in Washtenaw County. It’s also a part of the strategy to get Ann Arbor and the county to its carbon neutrality goals. One man has spent about 30 years on local land preservation. Barry Lonik has been a part of 100 projects preserving more than 10,000 acres of land that might otherwise have been developed. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Barry about his three-decade journey and about the impact he still wants to make.

Farmington Hills-based Schafer Development is eyeing a 50-acre plot of farmland in Pittsfield Township for a mixed-use development project. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

Land preservation efforts in the greater Washtenaw County area are about to expand. In 2024, The Legacy Land Conservancy received its largest-ever grant. It’s a $24.6 million infusion of money from the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program. WEMU's David Fair was joined by the Conservancy’s Susan LaCroix to discuss the impact that will have in 2025 and beyond in a New Year’s Day edition of "Issues of the Environment."

A new solar project being built in Washtenaw County is expected to generate enough electricity to power 15,000 to 20,000 homes every year. The White Tail Solar project will be built on farmland in York and Augusta Townships. Not only is the project going to help with Washtenaw County’s carbon neutrality goals, it is expected to generate well over $1 million in local tax revenue. WEMU's David Fair discussed the project and its impacts with Dick Cupka, chair of the York Township Planning Commission.

Voters in Ann Arbor Township are being asked to renew a land preservation millage that has already protected over 1,200 acres. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

66 acres of vacant farmland along US-23 in Pittsfield Township is soon to be developed for more housing. WEMU's Ana Longoria has more.

A bill to support solar power production on farmland made it out of the Michigan Senate Tuesday. Colin Jackson has more.

2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the Ann Arbor Greenbelt program. It makes use of millions of dollars from grants, landowner donations and other locally funded programs to protect thousands of acres of farmland and open space around the city. With the anniversary comes the announcement of a new farmland accessibility opportunity. The program's land acquisitions manager, Rosie Pahl Donaldson, joined WEMU's David Fair with all of the details on a new and exciting component to the Ann Arbor Greenbelt program.

A 119-acre family farm in Webster Township will be preserved for years to come. This is part of the township’s taxpayer-funded Farmland and Open Space program. WEMU's Josh Hakala reports.

Three Washtenaw County townships will be voting on three separate millage issues next week. On the August 2 primary ballot are millage issues in Ann Arbor…