On April 14, the Department of Agriculture announced Pennsylvania protected 2,038 acres of farmland on 22 farms in 13 counties from future residential or commercial development.

The investment of nearly $5 million in state, county, and local dollars preserves prime farmland for the future, helping Pennsylvania farms continue feeding our families and our economy.

"Fertile, healthy farmland and clean water are critical to our economy and our future," Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. "The families who preserve their farms are forging a partnership with government, investing together in ensuring that future Pennsylvania families will have food, green spaces, income, and jobs. Government working to sustain our economy and feed our quality of life is a central goal of the Shapiro Administration."  

Since 1988, Pennsylvania has protected 6,202 farms and 624,277 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.6 billion in state, county, and local funds. Pennsylvania continues to lead the nation in preserved farmland.

Pennsylvania partners with county and sometimes local governments and nonprofits to purchase development rights, ensuring a strong future for farming and food security. By selling their land's development rights, farm owners ensure that their farms will remain farms and never be sold to developers.

The newly preserved farms are in Berks, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Crawford, Cumberland, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mercer, Union, and York counties.

Click Here for a list of farms protected and the complete announcement.

Visit Agriculture’s Farmland Preservation webpage to learn more about this program.

Related Articles:

-- Lancaster Conservancy Announces Plan To Acquire Over 300 Acres Along Susquehanna River In York County  [PaEN]

-- Dept. Of Agriculture Accepting Applications For Agricultural Research Grants For Water Quality BMPs, Protecting Pollinators, Climate Change Resilience, On-Farm Energy Efficiency, More  [PaEN]

[Posted: April 14, 2023]

4/17/2023