Grossi, Ralph

Gutmann, Myron

Parton, William

English

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
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Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and 
Social Sciences Great Plains Studies, Center for 
2003 
Letters to the Editor 
Ralph Grossi 
American Farmland Trust 
William Parton 
Colorado State University 
Myron Gutmann 
University of Michigan 
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Grossi, Ralph; Parton, William; and Gutmann, Myron, "Letters to the Editor" (2003). Great Plains Research: 
A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences. 685. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/greatplainsresearch/685 
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 
Dear Editor: 
The study published in the spring 2003 issue of the Journal of Great 
Plains Research, "Urban Sprawl in Great Plains Does Not Hurt Agricul-
ture" stakes a superficial claim. Beneath a reported increase in eastern 
Colorado's harvested land lies a deeper, more dangerous trend: Sprawling 
development along the Front Range is pushing agriculture onto less-pro-
ductive, environmentally-sensitive land-land that requires more water in 
an increasingly arid West. 
The study's authors correctly identify that demand for water will only 
intensify over time. Since development brings a permanent demand for 
water, the stage is set for ever-fiercer battles between agriculturalists and 
developers over scarce water resources. 
It's natural to hope that farms and ranches can stay healthy and strong 
as our communities grow and prosper. That's what we're working toward. 
But none of us can afford to paint too rosy a picture of the real economic and 
environmental challenges that sprawl poses to our nation's farmland-not 
just in the Great Plains, but everywhere. 
Ralph Grossi, President 
American Farmland Trust 
1200 18th Street, NW Ste. 800 
Washington, DC 20036 
Dear Editor: 
* * * 
Ralph Grossi's critique of our recent paper is unjustified in its assertion that 
we suggest that Urban Sprawl has little impact on agriculture. We never 
wrote, "Urban Sprawl in Great Plains does not Hurt Agriculture," the ex-
pression used by Mr. Grossi. Instead, our article demonstrates that Urban 
Sprawl greatly reduces land in agriculture and alters the crops grown in 
those agricultural areas impacted by urbanization. In our balanced view of 
changes in agricultural activity since 1950, the positive impacts of urbaniza-
tion include stable employment in the agricultural service sector and higher 
prices for some products. Negative impacts include decreases in harvested 
361 
362 Great Plains Research Vol. 13 No.2, 2003 
land and total farmland, reductions in farm and ranch jobs, and income from 
animal production. Agriculture changed dramatically in Colorado during 
the second half of the 20th century, for many reasons including urban 
growth. Responsible science requires us to examine and understand that 
change and all the reasons behind it. 
William J. Parton 
Colorado State University 
Myron P. Gutmann 
University of Michigan 
William Travis 
University of Colorado 
Editor's Note: 
* * * 
The article referred to above was titled "Sustainability and Historical Land-
Use Change in the Great Plains: The Case of Eastern Colorado," by William 
J. Parton, Myron P. Gutmann, and William R. Travis. Great Plains Research 
(Spring 2003) Volume 13 Number 1, pages 97-125. 


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