§ 5.17. Agricultural, Natural and Cultural Trends and Outlook

Section 5.17 of the Clark County Inventory and Trends Report summarizes trends local communities of Clark County can expect over the planning period. Trends of particular importance to the City of Greenwood included the following:

• Increased pressure to convert farmland to other uses.

• The size of the average farm will continue to show moderate increases.

• The number of dairy farms will continue to decline.

• Dairy herd sizes will continue to increase.

• Expect an increase in the number of large "commercial" type farms, especially dairy.

• Expect a transition of farms to Amish and Mennonite cultures.

• Expect a continued use of subsistence farming practices.

• Decreased interest in farmland preservation programs.

• Increased interest in cash cropping.

• Increased interest in specialty farming.

• Dairy herd production will continue to increase.

• Interest in "value-added" businesses to complement small dairy and general farming operations will increase.

• There will be an increasing number of large dairies that are required to obtain WPDES permits.

• Increased interest in "value-added" businesses to complement small dairy and general farming operations.

The following trends are anticipated with respect to forest resources within the county that may impact the City of Greenwood.

• Demand for forest products is predicted to increase, while forestlands managed for timber harvest are expected to decrease.

• Growing public interest and involvement in the county forest will lead management of the resource further in the direction of accommodating multiple uses.

• Amish and Mennonite interest in providing localized milling operations to supplement farm incomes will continue.

The following are other anticipated trends with regard to the agricultural, natural, or cultural resources within the county that may impact the City of Greenwood.

• Interest in using water features for recreational purposes will continue.

• The county's riverfronts, woodlands, and highland areas will be desired as residential and seasonal use building sites.

• Pressure for development of residential subdivisions will increase for riverfront property.

• Demand for sand and gravel resources will continue.

• Conflict over forest management practices on public land will continue.

• Challenges to groundwater resources will grow including increasing quantity of withdrawal and increasing potential contamination sources.

• The recognized value of historic and cultural resources will grow, demanding more attention to their preservation.

According to the Clark County Land and Water Resource Management Plan trends in relation to wetlands include:

• Pressure from residential, non-metallic mining, and agriculture will increase.

• Pond/wetland construction with rural populace will increase.

• Public confusion about rules and regulations when dealing with wetlands will continue.