PA Invests Over $6.7 Million to Preserve 28 Farms, 2 in Berks

from Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Photo courtesy of Daniel Bernard on Unsplash

On Thursday, Oct. 10, the Shapiro Administration announced that Pennsylvania is investing $6,765,102 to purchase development rights for 1,953 acres on 28 farms in 16 counties, protecting them from future residential or commercial development. These conservation easement purchases ensure that Pennsylvania farmers will have the quality land they need to continue supporting families, communities, and jobs in the future.

“Saving Pennsylvania’s fertile farmland for producing food, rather than losing it to warehouses and suburban sprawl is one of our biggest challenges,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Pennsylvania’s prime location near ports, interstates, railways, and 40 percent of the U.S. population means farmers face fierce competition from developers seeking to buy their land. The Shapiro Administration is investing, together with farm families and county and local government, to feed our families and our economy now and in the future.”

These easement purchases multiply the impact of Pennsylvania dollars invested in conservation initiatives, including the $154 million Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP), Clean & Green tax incentives, $13 million in Resource Enhancement and Protection tax credits, and historic levels of support for Pennsylvania farmers who are conserving and enhancing the clean water and healthy soil they need to be productive in the future.

Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget includes new investments in agriculture innovation and conservation to keep Pennsylvania a national leader, including a new $10 million Agriculture Innovation Grant that is open for applications through Nov. 15, 2024, plus $35 million in new dollars for ACAP, and another $5 million for the Nutrient Management fund.

Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserved farmland. Since 1988, when voters overwhelmingly supported creating the state’s Farmland Preservation Program, Pennsylvania has protected 6,451 farms and 643,912 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.7 billion in state, county, and local funds.

The state partners with county, and sometimes local government and nonprofits to purchase development rights, ensuring a strong future for farming and food security. By selling development rights, farm owners ensure that their farms will remain productive farms and never be sold to developers.

Farms preserved are listed below by county, along with a breakdown of the total $6,765,102 invested.

Adams County – Total investment – $711,067; state – $556,760; county – $69,823; Union Township – $84,484

• Apple Valley Acres, 99-acre crop and livestock farm, Hamiltonban Township
• Rodney W. and Kelly S. Hollabaugh, 15-acre crop farm, Reading Township
• Barbara A. Martin, 131-acre crop and livestock farm, Union Township

Beaver County – Total investment – $405,902; state – $209,082; county – $196,820

• Myron L. and Lorene E. Bonzo, 98-acre crop and livestock farm, New Sewickley Township

Berks County – Total investment – $235,162; state – $177,624; county – $57,538

• Christopher B. and Sherry L. Beitler, 40-acre crop and livestock farm, Penn Township
• Lenhartsville Fish and Game Association, 36-acre crop farm, Windsor Township

Blair County – Total investment – $308,437; state – $213,437; county – $95,000

• Brian C. and Rachael K. Detwiler, and Joseph M. and Vevala McCutcheon, 168-acre crop and livestock farm, Tyrone Township

Bucks County – Total investment – $374,320; state – $302,056; county – $72,264

• Sarah Steel, 30-acre crop farm, Bedminster Township

Cumberland County – Total investment – $753,085; state – $126,779; county – $579,186; East Pennsboro Township – $47,120

• Robert C. and Kathryn A. Boyce #2, 45-acre beef farm, Lower Frankford Township
• Ralph L. and Linda K. Deitch, 68-acre crop farm, Middlesex Township
• Rock Solid Dairy #2, 83-acre dairy farm, North Newton Township
• Barry R. Simmons, 75-acre crop farm, East Pennsboro Township

Franklin County – Total investment – $259,179; state only

• Vaughn A. and Irene M. Snyder, 100-acre crop and livestock farm, Montgomery Township

Lancaster County – Total investment – $1,044,123; state – $991,221; county – $52,902

• Fahnestock Real Estate #1, 49-acre dairy farm, Rapho Township
• Fahnestock Real Estate #2, 81-acre dairy farm, Rapho Township
• Jay Vernon and Pamela Sue Funk, and S. Grace Shearer-Charles, 30-acre crop farm, Manor Township
• M. Joanne and Robert L. Heller and M. Joyce & Rodney C. Hershey, 107-acre crop farm, Rapho Township

Lawrence County – Total investment – $106,116; state – $88,204; county – $17,912

• Steven F. and Molly A. Slick, 71-acre crop farm, Pulaski Township

Lebanon County – Total investment – $255,687; state – $142,013; county – $113,674

• Nancy L. Lane, 52-acre crop and livestock farm, North Lebanon Township
• Elvin G. and Nancy J. Nolt, 46-acre hog farm, Millcreek Township

Luzerne County – Total investment – $335,837; state only

• Kevin C. Drasher, 94-acre crop and livestock farm, Nescopeck Township

Lycoming County – Total investment – $86,728; state – $82,549; county – $4,179

• Teresa M. Gordner, 66-acre crop farm, Jordan Township

Monroe County – Total investment – $231,972; state only

• Derek S. Mager, 37-acre crop farm, Eldred Township

Montgomery County – Total investment – $793,484; state – $632,028; county – $131,456; Lower Frederick Township – $30,000

• William L. and Janet N. Luyben #1, 35-acre crop farm, Lower Frederick Township
• James L. Yerger, Robert B. Yerger, Jr., and Christopher P. Yerger, 57-acre crop and livestock farm, Upper Hanover Township

Tioga County – Total investment – $87,049; state – $4,937; county – $82,112

• Linda J. Reese, 51-acre crop farm, Charleston Township

Westmoreland County – Total investment – $776,956; state – $332,560; county – $444,396

• Timothy D. and Catherine A. Catalina and Thomas J. Catalina, Jr. #1, 89-acre crop farm, East Huntingdon Township
• Wayne C. and Hope L. Frye #6, 86-acre crop farm, Unity Township

To learn more about Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program and investments in a secure, sustainable future for Pennsylvania, visit agriculture.pa.gov.

Learn how Governor Josh Shapiro’s Economic Development Strategy recognizes agriculture as key to our future economic success, and find more investments in a strong future for Pennsylvania agriculture at shapirobudget.pa.gov.

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Source: bctv