Land Use Assessment is very important to farmers in Virginia. Most, if not all, states have some type of tax valuation system that taxes agriculture and forestry acreage at its use value instead of it highest market value. As county governments have looked for more revenue the past few years, Land Use has come up on the agenda at several county board of supervisors meetings for possible changes or elimination. In central Virginia, discussions took place in Cumberland and Fluvanna counties. Thankfully, Farm Bureau led the charge in not only defending Land Use Assessment, but proactively promoting the program as a valuable tool for county governments to balance rural and non-rural needs and finances.

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