Farmland in 16 Pennsylvania counties will remain viable for agricultural production thanks to this week's approval of more than 2,200 acres on 27 farms for preservation by the state Farmland Preservation Board, said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff.

"Pennsylvania's production agriculture industry helps provide all citizens with nutritious food and necessary fiber," said Secretary Wolff. "It is critical that we take every measure possible to secure our rich farmland for future generations, keeping Pennsylvania's economy and agricultural industry growing."

A joint state, county and township investment of more than $9.8 million will secure 27 additional farms and 2,226 acres in 16 counties. In total, Pennsylvania has preserved 3,661 farms and 403,411 acres, making it the national leader in farmland preservation.

The latest preserved farms are in the following counties: Berks, Bucks, Centre, Chester, Columbia, Dauphin, Fayette, Franklin, Lebanon, Monroe, Montgomery, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Wayne and York.

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.

For more information, look for PA's Farmland Preservation Programs webpages.

10/17/2008