During the production of agricultural commodities, an agricultural landscape is simultaneously being produced. In many regions, agriculture is no longer valued for just the production of food and fibre but also for the social, cultural and environmental amenities associated with the landscape. The paradigm of multifunctional agriculture has become concerned with the joint production of agricultural products and these rural amenities. The loss of agricultural land especially in areas around the urban-rural fringe has greatly affected the demand for these rural amenities. In response, governments and volunteer organizations have developed programs to preserve farmland. The Niagara Region is home to some of the best fruit growing land in Canada but has a long history of fighting to maintain its farmland. Drawing from the multifunctional paradigm, this study analyzes the preference for different rural amenities and farmland preservation in this unique region. Survey and interviews conducted with both the non-farm population and farmers indicated that demand exists for maintaining rural amenities and for farmland preservation. Consideration of these preferences will enhance the development of farmland preservation in the Niagara Fruit Belt.

During the production of agricultural commodities, an agricultural landscape is simultaneously being produced. In many regions, agriculture is no longer valued for just the production of food and fibre but also for the social, cultural and environmental amenities associated with the landscape. The paradigm of multifunctional agriculture has become concerned with the joint production of agricultural products and these rural amenities. The loss of agricultural land especially in areas around the urban-rural fringe has greatly affected the demand for these rural amenities. In response, governments and volunteer organizations have developed programs to preserve farmland. The Niagara Region is home to some of the best fruit growing land in Canada but has a long history of fighting to maintain its farmland. Drawing from the multifunctional paradigm, this study analyzes the preference for different rural amenities and farmland preservation in this unique region. Survey and interviews conducted with both the non-farm population and farmers indicated that demand exists for maintaining rural amenities and for farmland preservation. Consideration of these preferences will enhance the development of farmland preservation in the Niagara Fruit Belt.

<p> Urban development in the Niagara fruit belt has long been a problem for the area. The gradual beginnings of small non-rural land uses created demand for the infrastructure that literally paved the way for large scale urbanization of this agricultural land. Development has continued to the point that the fruit belt's viability as an agricultural resource, is threatened. This paper outlines a history of events the fruit belt, it's importance to Canada's agricultural industry, the threats to the area and the conflicting views in order to determine whether or not the fruit belt can be preserved for agriculture. In this, it was discovered that the greatest threats to the area originate from economic conditions favouring urban development. This thesis provides a basis on which future planning and development for the fruit belt can be assessed. It also indicates the extent of damage and conditions in order to determine the possibility of saving the area.</p> / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy

The thesis examines land-use changes in a selected area of the Niagara Fruit Belt between 1954 and 1978. Part of the former township of Louth was chosen for investigation because it is located in the centre of the fruit belt, and is an area affected by several urban influences. Two detailed land-use maps were produced from aerial photograph interpretation. These maps reveal the many exchanges among agricultural land uses and the actual loss to urban and urban-related uses which occurred during the time span investigated. They indicate the loss of fruit land to non-agricultural uses is less than was anticipated. Increases in grape acreages have been implemented relatively close to the city of St. Catharines and the lost peach acreage is not entirely due to urbanization. A land-use change index was developed, based on total change per lot, for use in the quantitative analysis. The 1954 assessment roll provided the data on individual properties. Eight hypotheses were developed to account for the land-use changes. These were rejected, and it was suggested that the study area was undergoing a "normal” process of change, resulting from a combination of agricultural and urban forces. Further research is needed in order to understand more fully, the processes of land-use change in an area such as Louth. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)