Pennsylvania preserves nearly 2,100 acres of farmland

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board recently safeguarded 2,064 additional acres on 22 farms in 17 counties through the state’s nationally renowned farmland preservation program.

Locations

The board preserved farms in Adams, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Centre, Chester, Dauphin, Juniata, Luzerne, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Potter, Union, Wayne and Westmoreland counties. Since the program began in 1988, state, county and local governments have invested nearly $1.2 billion to preserve 470,155 acres on 4,364 farms in 57 counties for future agricultural production.

How it works

To help save the state’s farmland, the Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program identifies properties and slows the loss of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses. The program enables state, county and local governments to purchase conservation easements, also called development rights, from owners of quality farmland.

In some cases, the federal Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program provides additional assistance. Last fiscal year, Pennsylvania received $6.1 million federal reimbursements, the largest amount ever.

Locally

A list of the western Pa. farms preserved follows:

Butler — The Amy, Charles M., Charles H. and Lois Andler farm, a 60.26-acre crop farm

Westmoreland — The Edward and Nancy Krokosky farm, a 163.76-acre pasture and livestock operation.