Survey shows 90% of Ottawa County farmers demand stronger zoning, succession support

OTTAWA COUNTY — Ottawa County is doubling down on its farmland preservation strategies after a comprehensive survey revealed that 9 out of 10 local farmers and landowners view the loss of agricultural land as a critical issue.

According to the newly released 2026 Farmland Preservation Survey, 89% of respondents believe local farmland loss is a problem and advocate for its preservation — a 7% increase since the county's initial baseline survey in 2019.
The findings offer strong public validation for the Department of Strategic Impact (DSI) and its "Focus on Agriculture Plan," which has guided the county’s agricultural support programs for the past seven years.

"It’s tremendously rewarding to see the efforts we’ve prioritized track with those connected to the agriculture industry," said DSI Director Paul Sachs. "This invaluable data will continue to guide the hand of staff through the rest of the decade and beyond."

Strong alignment on protection strategies

Distributed in February 2026 to more than 1,600 farmers and owners of agriculturally zoned properties (5+ acres), the 14-question assessment garnered 409 responses — a 25% response rate. Officials noted the turnout provided a statistically robust dataset with a margin of error of 5% or lower.

Respondents overwhelmingly supported specific municipal and economic interventions to safeguard the local agricultural ecosystem:

• Planning and zoning (90% support): A vast majority favored higher-level land-use planning to manage residential and commercial expansion.
• Economic viability (84% support): Respondents urged policies that enhance profitability and market strength for local producers.
• Succession planning (82% support): Landowners prioritized structured transfer strategies to keep farms operational across generations.
• Conservation easements (66% support): A solid majority backed protecting land from development through formal agricultural easements.

Adam Dietrich, president of the Ottawa County Farm Bureau, welcomed the alignment between producers and local government.

"We appreciate that Ottawa County is prioritizing agriculture and took time to identify critical issues related to farmland protection," Dietrich said. "Succession planning, land use strategies, advocating for ag-friendly economic policies — these are all ways our farmers can be better positioned for success."

High stakes for a regional powerhouse

The pressure on local farmland comes at a time of rapid suburban development, placing the agricultural sector — which generates more than $726 million in annual product according to the 2022 Ag Census — under increasing strain.

In response, county planners are focusing on cross-jurisdictional land-use strategies, encouraging infill development via brownfield incentives, and directing commercial growth toward existing urban infrastructure to relieve development pressure on prime acreage.

Based on the survey results, DSI official Becky Huttenga noted that the county will direct additional resources toward two main objectives moving forward: deepening collaboration with local municipal governments to curb farmland conversion, and expanding succession planning support for aging landowners.

"These priorities aren't new," Huttenga said. "But these concerns led the pack from those surveyed. This clear guidance tells us to put more energy and resources into collaborating with local municipalities and continue to boost farmland transfer efforts."

Other top-ranking ways survey participants said the County can support agriculture — including enhancing the economic viability of farming (84% support), encouraging succession planning (82%) and through the creation of agricultural conservation easements (66%) — also are key pieces of the Focus on Ag plan. View the plan on miottawa.org/farmland for specific examples.

— Submitted by the Ottawa County Department of Strategic Impact. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.