On September 6 the Senate Agriculture Committee will hold an informational hearing in Lancaster on using Realty Transfer Tax from the sale of farmland as a source of funding for farmland preservation and hear comments on other potential changes to the Agricultural Security Areas law and tax policy related to farmland.

The hearing will focus on farmland preservation initiatives in Pennsylvania and current efforts underway to preserve family farms. Among those scheduled to testify are Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff, representatives of agricultural and land preservation organizations, the Lancaster County Blue Ribbon Commission and area farmers. There will also be panel discussions on local efforts to preserve farmland.

Under consideration are changes included in Senate Bill 252 (Thompson-R-Chester) Senate Bill 723 (Wenger-R-Lancaster) and House Bill 629 (Bunt-R-Montgomery.)

9/2/2005