Who entered into the Conservation Easement agreement?

The Easement was entered into between the landowners, Sibley and Margaret Fedora, Trustees of the Fedora Family Trust of 1994, and the Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust on June 12, 2014.  The agreement was funded through The Department of Conservation, CA Farmland Conservancy Program with matching funds dedicated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm, and Ranch Lands Protection Program.

When was the Conservation Easement completed?

The agreement was signed on June 12^th, 2014.

What is an Agricultural Conservation Easement agreement?

A land protection agreement (conservation easement) is a voluntary legal agreement a landowner makes to restrict the amount and type of future development and potential use while protecting the agricultural productive capacity of the property. The landowner maintains the title to the property but transfers certain property rights, such as the right to subdivide, to a nonprofit conservation organization such as the Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust.  The easement enables the land to remain in productive agricultural use in perpetuity by preventing and correcting uses of the property that would diminish or impair the agricultural productive capacity and open space character of the property or cause significant soil degradation.

Where is the Fedora Farms Agricultural Conservation Easement located?

The Easement is located in unincorporated Sutter County, east of the City of Colusa and the Sacramento
River, and north of the town of Meridian.

How many acres are included in the Agricultural Conservation Easement agreement?

The Easement consists of three separate properties, Home Ranch (99.38 acres), Hixson Ranch (168 acres) and Mawson Ranch (108.94 acres) for a total acreage of 376.32.

Why types of conservation values are being protected?

The properties are comprised of walnut orchards and row crops.  A portion of the easement has frontage on both the Sacramento River and Butte Slough.  All three farms are within the view shed of the Sutter Buttes and have soils that have been classified as “Prime” by the Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and by the California Department of Conservation, Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program because the properties have

soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed for sustained agricultural production.

Why is the protection of agricultural land important?

There are several important reasons to preserve farmland.  With a rapidly increasing world population and expanding global markets, preserving farmland is a prudent investment in the world food supply and the nation’s economic future.  Farm and ranch lands also provide environmental benefits in the form of flood protection, water quality, air quality, and habitat for wildlife.  For many communities, protecting farm land means protecting a way of life – scenic and cultural landscapes, farmer’s markets, recreational opportunities, local jobs, and community businesses.  The Sutter Buttes Land Trust recognizes the importance of protecting what is left of this valuable resource. We offer an alternative to developing farmland. We believe that offering farmers and ranchers a choice will give them the opportunity to voluntarily protect some or all of their property from development.