The Pennsylvania State Land Preservation Board has purchased over 1,500 acres of land on 22 farms in 11 counties to prevent it from being developed in the future. The state has invested $5.8 million to acquire the land.
The land purchase is part of the Farmland Preservation Program, which was established by voters in 1988 to protect farmland for future generations. The program uses state, county, and local funds to purchase development rights from farm owners.
It is hoped that the preservation of these 1,519 acres of land will ensure that Pennsylvania farmers will continue to have access to prime farmland.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said, “In the simplest terms, without farms, we don’t eat. Pennsylvania has some of the richest soil in the nation and is situated near ports, railways, interstate highways, and 40 percent of the nation’s population — the very people we need to feed. Protecting those economic opportunities and irreplaceable resources for our farmers is one of the most important investments we make as a state.”
Pennsylvania leads the nation in the preservation of farmland, with 6,336 farms and 634,375 acres protected by the Farmland Preservation Program since 1988, which represents an investment of over $1.69 billion.
Local governments and nonprofits can also purchase development rights to ensure that farms remain operational and do not fall prey to development.
The state hopes that additional investment of federal dollars will be made available for the preservation of farmland, including two Schuylkill County farms that are located along the Kittatinny Ridge.
The farms are rich in farmland and are home to a variety of wildlife, and the state hopes that their preservation will safeguard the health of the Chesapeake Bay and the surrounding water supply.
“Farm families who sell their land development rights are leaving a legacy that will ensure that future Pennsylvania families have green spaces and healthy farmland to produce food, income, and jobs,” Sec. Redding said. “The Shapiro Administration is proud to continue supporting that legacy and partnering with federal, county, and local government to sustain our future together.”
Story source: www.pa.media.gov