In order to conserve farmland, voluntary differential tax assessment programs, such as California's Williamson Act, are widely utilized in the United States and elsewhere. However, despite the tax advantages offered, these programs must compete with the large sums of money that agricultural landowners stand to gain by developing their land. This temptation is exacerbated by difficulties farmers on the periphery of urban areas already face, especially friction with suburban neighbors. This monograph examines just how effective the Williamson Act has been in protecting farmland near urban areas...