Overlooking a beautiful view of open space and productive farmland in Lancaster County, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff this week celebrated Pennsylvania’s milestone of preserving 300,000 acres of farmland.

Wolff joined members of the state’s Farmland Preservation Board, local officials and farmers at the preserved farm of Luke Brubaker in Mt. Joy.

“Pennsylvania is the leader in farmland preservation, and we’re excited to celebrate this milestone of preserving 300,000 acres,” said Wolff. “Agriculture is critically important to the economy and heritage of Pennsylvania. Without our farms and farmland, we can’t continue to produce food and fiber for the people of Pennsylvania and around the world.”

Wolff chaired the state Farmland Preservation Board meeting earlier in the day when 33 farms, representing 3,031 acres, were approved for the program. With today’s additions, the state program has preserved 304,151 acres and 2,651 farms.

The farms approved by the Board represent 15 counties: Berks, Butler, Carbon, Centre, Cumberland, Erie, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lycoming, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Tioga and York. Fifty-five of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are enrolled in the program.

“Pennsylvania has 7.7 million acres of farmland, representing 27 percent of the state’s land base,” said Wolff. “With agriculture contributing $45 billion to the economy, we must continue to preserve our farms and open space.”

Preserved farmland also provides tax-savings for Pennsylvania residents. In a ‘Cost of Community Services Study’ by the American Farmland Trust, research shows that for every dollar a farm family pays in property taxes, it only uses 36 cents in public services. On the other hand, for every dollar invested by residential areas, $1.16 is required in services.

Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program was developed in 1988 to slow the loss of farmland to development. The program enables state, county and local governments to purchase conservation easements (also known as development rights) from owners of quality farmland.

For more information, visit the State Farmland Preservation Program webpage or call 717-783-3167.

6/17/2005