The Charlottesville region lost nearly 8 percent of its farmland in only five years — a rate that outpaced the rest of Virginia. Statewide, Virginia lost roughly 6 percent of its farmland during the same period.

Between 2002 and 2007, the total quantity of local farmland fell by 56,836 acres, according to the 2007 Census of Agriculture. Despite the loss of acerage, the overall number of farms grew slightly in every local county, with the exception of Albemarle, which lost 24 farms between 2002 and 2007.

The average size of farms dropped in every county by a rate as high as 20% in Louisa County and as little as 6% in Madison and Orange counties.

[Read](http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/farmland_dwindles_in_area/35436/ “Read the Article”) (Charlottesville Daily Progress)