PENNSYLVANIA — In a continued effort to preserve Pennsylvania’s farmland, the state recently invested nearly $7.5 million in 24 farms across 10 counties. This brings the total number of protected farms to 6,118 and acres preserved to 616,713.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding commented on the importance of this preservation, stating that “every dollar spent protecting prime farmland from development is an investment in our economy, our environment, our quality of life, and our ability to feed Pennsylvania’s families and economy.”
This investment not only helps to preserve the state’s agricultural industry, but also safeguards natural resources and supports local communities. By protecting farms from development, Pennsylvania is ensuring a sustainable future for its agriculture industry and the countless individuals it employs and benefits.
By selling their land’s development rights, landowners ensure that their farm will remain a farm and never be sold for residential, commercial or industrial development. Farm families often sell their land at below-market value, donate additional land, or agree to conservation practices on their farms in order to leverage additional federal and state money to preserve more family farms.
Pennsylvania partners with county and sometimes local governments and non-profits to purchase development rights, ensuring a strong future for farming and food security and leading the nation in the number of preserved farms. Since 1988, Pennsylvania has invested more than $1.6 billion to protect open, green spaces and food production for the future.
Notable farms preserved at last Thursday’s’s PA Land Preservation Board meeting include:
John M. and Kathryn A. Hunsberger’s farm in Bucks County is scenic and highly visible from the road. The prime location is coveted by residential developers who will pay top dollar for the land. The Hunsberger’s easement purchase will ensure that the 62-plus acres remain green space and productive farmland.
Robert and Laura Faux’s Wyoming County crop and cattle farm has been in their family for generations. The property’s original barn predates the Civil War, features hand-hewn beams and is still in use.
John W. Marsteller Jr.’s York County crop farm is the third farm preserved by the family, bringing the family’s total protected land to more than 1,400 acres. Southern York County is experiencing intense residential development pressure as a bedroom community for Baltimore commuters.
Farms preserved and dollars invested, by county:
Berks County – Total investment – $923,414, state – $878,389, county – $45,025
- The Mark B. Latshaw Farm, District Twp., a 180-acre crop farm
- The David A. Yost Farm, Upper Tulpehocken Twp., a 122-acre crop farm
- The Peter A. and LeAnne L. Zettlemoyer Farm, a 59-acre crop and livestock farm
Bucks County – Total investment – $1,395,440, state – $585,600, county -$558,600, township -$528,775, nonprofit – $62,810
- The Jeffrey L. and Darlene M. Heackock Farm, Bedminster Twp., a 30-acre crop farm
- The John M. and Kathryn A. Hunsberger Farm, Bedminster Twp., a 63-acre crop farm
Cumberland County – Total investment – $467,204, state – $9,347, county – $117,532, township – $340,325
- The Thomas D. Moyer Farm #1, Silver Spring Twp., a 118-acre crop farm
Dauphin County – Total investment – $832,861, state only
- Bechtel Farms, Halifax, a 123-acre crop farm
- The Eli L. and Sadie M. King Farm, Mifflin Twp., a 93-acre crop and livestock farm
- The John Neagley Farm, Washington Twp., a 165-acre crop farm
- The Darryl Rode Farm, Halifax, a 62-acre crop farm
- The Gerald F .and Linda K. Wiest Farm #2, Lykens, a 39-acre crop farm
Lancaster County – Total investment – $1,574,265, state only
- The Benjamin Joel and Alisha Danae Nissley Farm, Mt. Joy, a 130-acre crop and livestock farm
- The Fred L. and Connie L. Ranck Farm #1, Strasburg, a 33-acre crop farm
- The Fred L. and Connie L. Ranck Farm #2, Strasburg, a 111-acre crop farm
- The Matthew K. and Kelly L. Wiker Farm, Martic Twp., a 123-acre crop farm
Lehigh County – Total investment – $366,371, state – $356,371, county – $5,000, township – $5,000
- The Michael G. and Karin M. Bowman Farm, Heidelberg Twp., a 26-acre crop farm
- The Adam B. and Amanda L. Dietrich Farm, Lynn Twp., a 44-acre crop farm
Montgomery County – Total investment – $281,181, state – $278,471, county – $2,710
- The Gregory H. Moser Farm #1, Douglass Twp., a 30-acre crop farm
Northampton County – Total investment – $466,534, state – $21,777, county – $227,100, township – $197,657
- The Moore Township #5 Farm, a 43-acre crop farm
- The Walter M. Jr. and Melody A. Schlegel Farm, Plainfield Twp., a 40-acre crop farm
Wyoming County – Total investment – $155,763, state – $92,381, county – $63,382
- The Robert and Laura Faux Farm #1, a 77-acre crop and livestock farm
York County – Total investment – $1,001,978, state – $775,583, county – $226,395
- The Robert B. and Judy K. Burchett Farm #4, Chanceford Twp., a 104-acre crop farm
- The Lydia M. Manifold Farm #2, East Hopewell Twp., an 84-acre crop farm
- The John W. Marsteller, Jr. Farm #1, Hopewell Twp., a 149-acre crop farm
Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program recently secured a $7.85 million grant from the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program to support climate-smart conservation on preserved Pennsylvania farms.
To learn more about Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program and investments in a secure future for Pennsylvania agriculture, visit agriculture.pa.gov.
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