A weekly roundup of news and events concerning food, farms, the environment, local communities- and anything else that may catch our eye. This week, an editorial from the Hartford Courant addressed the reality of farmland preservation in Connecticut.  Although saving more land than in previous years, the 1,370 acres protected in 2009 was almost 500 acres shy of the agricultural land lost to development.  The need to protect America’s farmland before it is too late is as vital as ever! The Boulder Daily Camera reported on a unique partnership in the Denver metro area.  Kaiser Permanente and the Denver Botanic Gardens have teamed up to operate a Community Supported Agriculture farm that provides healthy food to low-income families.  The project seeks to combat the city’s food deserts and subsequent health problems by making nutritious, sustainable food available to those with limited access. What is a farmers market? A task force organized by the Farmers Market Coalition has helped to answer this question. The group recently developed a baseline definition to address confusion among policymakers and consumers.  The definition will also improve communication outreach efforts and provide for more accurate data collection in the future. The price of the best farmland is predicted to rise in coming years due to increasing world food demand, reported the Omaha World-Herald.  This forecast is based on estimates of growing populations compared to available and productive farmland.  Along with this shift comes additional challenges, including efficient water use and rising food prices. Montgomery County, Maryland has taken a step toward addressing climate change by instituting a local carbon tax. Revenue from the tax is expected to be used in energy efficiency projects throughout the county. Read the full bill here. A Senate resolution to block the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gases failed late Thursday with a vote of 47 to 53.  Read our response here. Lastly, the final regulations for the USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program have been published with a number of changes.  Make note of the deadline change for the CSP application from June 11 to June 25, 2010.