Urban area expansion often causes conversion of agricultural land. The conversion is most detrimental when the farmland lost is of high quality, as both production levels and crop diversity suffer.

Land conversion in Plan Trend 2050 is minimal; however, both Development 2050 and Conservation 2050 have a notable reduction in agricultural acreage. The largest reduction occurs in Development 2050 with one third of the conversion due to built structures and the rest in remnants too small to be practical for agriculture. The amount is slightly less in Conservation 2050, with nearly all the conversion due to habitat restoration.