PA: STATE PRESERVATION BOARD PROTECTS ADDITIONAL FARMLAND FROM DEVELOPMENT
News Date February 23, 2010
The Pennsylvania Agricultural Preservation Board today voted to safeguard 3,346 additional acres on 36 farms from future development through the state’s nationally recognized farmland preservation program.
During the program’s 22-year history, 432,054 acres on 3,964 farms have been preserved for future agricultural production.
“Pennsylvania’s commitment to preserving farmland is second to none nationally,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Every citizen benefits from farmland preservation. Through increased food production, improved environmental stewardship and enhanced local economies, preserved farms represent the commitment producers have to their communities.
“I applaud those farmers who have taken this important step to protect their farm in perpetuity – meaning it will always remain available for agricultural production. It is with this kind of forward thinking that we can keep Pennsylvania growing.”
The state’s farmland preservation program works through the Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program, which was developed in 1988 to help slow 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.
Since the program’s inception, state, county and local governments have invested more than $1 billion to preserve farms. (Contact: Nicole Bucher, 717-787-5085)