A report released this week from the Natural Resources Defense Council warns that more than one-third of counties in the United States face water shortages due to climate change. The greatest risks were measured in the Southwest, Rocky Mountain and Southeast regions of the country. The report, which includes county- and state-specific data, is a stark reminder of the need to protect our water resources. Agriculture, environment, and labor leaders teamed up in California to address national climate policy. The coalition, which includes American Farmland Trust, has established six principles that seek to reward farmers based on their performance in managing sustainable agricultural practices. A recent story from CNN.com lists the top ten farmers markets for travelers as selected by a group of nationally renowned food writers and chefs. It also highlights American Farmland Trust’s own America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest, which is open to online voting through August 31. In Missouri, Governor Jay Nixon has created a Joint Committee on Urban Farming. The task force of farm policy and urban development leaders will report to the Governor on urban farming and sustainable living communities to inform the 2011 state legislature, including suggestions on how to convert abandoned buildings into productive produce centers. As sustainable farming and food writer Judi Gerber explained, AFT’s No Farms No Food® message is a clear reason why preserving farmland is important. Not only do farms provide food, but they also protect our environment and preserve our communities. Farmland supports local food systems that positively impact the surrounding agricultural economy - all while producing fresh, healthy food! Local land trusts are valuable partners in protecting farmland and recent legislation has streamlined the process in New York State to make it easier for land trusts to access state funding.  However, as Rochester’s City Newspaper reports, this change comes with a contradictory twist – the state has also decreased funding for its Farmland Protection Program. Despite the tough news, communities in the Empire State continue to work toward protecting their lands and the state funds that support these efforts. Preserving open space just makes sense, explains Executive Director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation Michele Byers in a piece for the Courier-Post. As the most densely populated state, New Jersey runs the risk of losing all of its open lands. Luckily, municipal governments are taking note.  Through research, such as Cost of Community Services studies, towns in the Garden State are discovering how protecting land will help taxpayers in the end.