Oregon has some of the most unique and productive soil found anywhere in the world and has enacted strong policies to protect farmland for agriculture. The main tool for carrying out that policy is the statewide planning program that sets standards and criteria. Counties apply these state requirements through local comprehensive plans and land-use ordinances. All counties in Oregon have adopted planning and zoning measures to protect agricultural land.
What is Farmland?
Agricultural land is identified based on soil types and other factors. Land zoned for exclusive farm use (EFU) is protected. Other lands may also be protected under EFU zoning if they are suitable for grazing, used by farm and ranch operations, or necessary to permit farm practices to be undertaken on adjacent or nearby lands.
Agriculture is one of the state's biggest industries. Farming and ranching are important sectors of Oregon's agricultural industry and are critical drivers of the state's economy. In 2023, Oregon agricultural sector exported over $2 billion in commodities. Oregon’s 35,500 farms had an average crop value per land acre of $4,090.
Why does Oregon protect farmland?
A vibrant local farm economy requires a critical mass of farmland. When residential development or parcelization disrupts contiguous farmland, a cycle of converting farm land to other use types can occur. As land is converted, farms experience conflicts with neighbors, such as trespass, littering, pets chasing livestock and complaints about spraying, manure application, hours of operation and other normal farming practices.
If conflicts become disruptive, farmers may stop making investments in their operations and seek to divide and sell their land for development or use it for other purposes. The division and sale of farmland for non-farm purposes drives up land prices, often putting it out of the reach of existing farms and new farmers wanting to enter the market. As farm operations scale down or leave, farm infrastructure, such as feed stores, processing facilities and irrigation districts lose their customer base, affecting the ability of the remaining farm community to be successful, and further driving a cycle of conversion.
How does the statewide planning program protect farmland?
Oregon's statewide program requires counties to:
- Inventory farmland
- Adopt policies to preserve farmland in the comprehensive plan
- Zone land for exclusive farm use (EFU) consistent with state law
Oregon's program emphasizes availability of land, free from conflicts, for use by commercial agriculture. County comprehensive plan policies strive to minimize conversion of farmland to other uses.
Zoning also retains farmland in large blocks by prohibiting subdivision into parcels too small for commercial farming. This is accomplished by establishing large minimum lot sizes – typically 80 acres on farmland and 160 acres on ranchland. Large lot sizes help prevent the division of farms and ranches into smaller parcels that do not support commercial agriculture.
Exclusive Farm Use Zoning
EFU zoning has changed over the years. Originally, only 6 non-farm uses were allowed in EFU zones. Today the list has grown to more than 60. Although the primary use in EFU zones remains farming, the zone has been diversified to include a variety of uses such as tourism, energy development, and destination resorts. A complete list of uses allowed is provided in
OAR 660-033-0120. In order to approve many uses that are not directly related to agriculture, a county must analyze whether the proposed use will significantly change or increase the cost of farming practices on surrounding lands.
The legislature has recognized that EFU zoning limits the use of agricultural land. As an incentive, land in an EFU zone that is primarily used to make a profit from farming qualifies for reduced taxes.
Oregon law spells out the standards and processes to approve development in EFU zones (ORS 215 and
OAR Chapter 660, Division 33).
Resource Documents
2022-2023 Farm and Forest Report