From Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Photo courtesy of Daniel Bernard on Unsplash
The Shapiro Administration announced on Thursday, June 12, that Pennsylvania is investing nearly $10 million to purchase development rights for 2,672 acres on 35 farms in 18 counties, protecting them from future residential or commercial development. These joint investments by state and local government ensure that Pennsylvania farmers will have the prime-quality land they need to continue feeding our families and supporting jobs and communities in the future. Since the Shapiro Administration began, Pennsylvania has invested $125.2 million to preserve 415 new farms and 35,177 prime acres of farmland across the state.
“Preserving Pennsylvania farmland is an investment in the future of our economy and farm families,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “When that land is lost to development, we lose one of our most valuable economic assets. The Shapiro Administration continues to stand up for Pennsylvania’s farmers by supporting the contributions they have made to seal our reputation as a national leader, and by investing to protect and improve the resources they need tomorrow, and the innovations that will keep PA on top.”
Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget recognizes that agriculture isn’t just part of our rich heritage in Pennsylvania – it’s key to our future. More than 48,800 farms across Pennsylvania contribute $132.5 billion to our economy and support almost 600,000 jobs, making agriculture a key driver of Pennsylvania’s economy.
To continue Pennsylvania’s national legacy as an agricultural leader, the Governor’s 2025-26 budget proposes:
- An additional $13 million investment in the historic Ag Innovation Grant to help build the future of American agriculture right here in Pennsylvania. In its first open application period, the Ag Innovation Grant was oversubscribed by nearly $60 million and received 159 applications for nearly $70 million worth of innovation projects. In February, Governor Shapiro announced investments in 88 ag businesses in 46 Pennsylvania counties, which are even today funding transformative investments in state-of-the-art agricultural technologies.
- Investing $2 million to keep Pennsylvania’s new animal diagnostic laboratory in the western part of the state operational, providing critical testing services for farmers to ensure their livestock remain healthy and viable for continued farming operations.
- A $4 million funding increase to connect Pennsylvanians at risk of hunger with healthy, local food through the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System.
- An additional $4 million funding increase to the State Food Purchase Program to provide emergency food assistance for low-income Pennsylvanians.
Thursday’s approved easement purchases multiply the impact of Pennsylvania dollars invested in conservation initiatives, including the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP), which is changing the landscape of rural PA. Nearly 2,000 farmers statewide have sought financial and technical support through ACAP to improve their management practices to have a lasting impact on not just their farms, but the entire region’s water and soil health. Increased funding for ACAP is reaching farmers across Pennsylvania who are eager for help funding their investments in sustainability.
Pennsylvania continues to lead the nation in preserved farmland. Since 1988, when voters overwhelmingly supported creating the state’s Farmland Preservation Program, Pennsylvania has protected 6,564 farms and 654,551 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing nearly $1.76 billion in state, county, and local funds.
The state partners with local governments and nonprofits to purchase development rights for preservation, ensuring a strong future for farming and food security. By selling development rights, farm owners ensure that their farms will remain productive and never be sold to developers. The 600-acre Holl Farm — Cumberland County’s largest preserved farm to date — will leverage federal dollars to preserve farms on the county’s wait list by virtue of participating in the federal government’s easement program in 2024.
Farms preserved at Thursday’s State Agricultural Land Preservation Board meeting are listed below by county, along with a breakdown of the total $9,993,033 invested:
Adams County – Total investment – $340,376; state – $177,367; county – $163,009
- Edward L. and Shirley A.S. Prosser, 118-acre crop farm, Latimore Township
Beaver County – Total investment – $90,441; state – $50,231; county – $40,210
- Earl E. Durr, 24-acre crop farm, New Sewickley Township
Berks County – Total investment – $738,265; state – $637,936; county – $100,329
- Dawn A. Dieter, 60-acre crop and livestock farm, Upper Tulpehocken Township
- Meadow Glen Farm, 134-acre crop farm, Windsor Township
- Bryan R. Younker, 51-acre crop and livestock farm, Greenwich Township
Blair County – Total investment – $298,671; state – $209,671; county – $89,000
- England Family Limited Partnership, 123-acre crop and livestock farm, Woodbury Township
Bucks County – Total investment – $1,485,100; state – $1,114,886; county – $370,214
- Wesley Mark and Laura May Schmidt farm #1, 62-acre crop farm, Bedminster Township
- Clyde N. and Janice M. Thomas, Trustees of the Thomas Revocable Living Trust, 40-acre miscellaneous crop farm, Bedminster Township
- Peter J. and Joyce M. Weiss, 17-acre crop and livestock farm, Milford Township
Butler County – Total investment – $292,149; state – $289,362; county – $2,787
- Lawrence H. and Carrie L. Lang, 92-acre crop and livestock farm, Marion Township
Chester County – Total investment – $1,120,966; state – $597,092; county – $523,874
- 1067 Wickerton Road Limited Partnership, 92-acre crop farm, Franklin Township
- Paul A. Kavanagh, Jr., 101-acre crop farm, Upper Oxford Township
Crawford County – Total investment – $95,550; state – $91,550; county – $4,000
- Roger G. Simpson, 80-acre beef farm, Oil Creek Township
Erie County – Total investment – $170,906; state only
- Kula Farms #1, 91-acre crop farm, Waterford Township
Franklin County – Total investment – $729,324; state only
- Lemar Road, 202-acre crop farm, Peters Township
- Donald L. and Denise M. Martin #3, 78-acre crop and livestock farm, Guilford Township
Lancaster County – Total investment – $1,521,650; state – $56,392; county – $1,415,258; Manor Township – $50,000
- Jay L. and Jane L. Bleacher, 54-acre crop and livestock farm, Manor Township
- Blaine R. and Sherri L. Gorman, 167-acre crop farm, West Donegal and Conoy townships
- Robert P. and Linda F. Hoffines farm #2, 31-acre crop farm, East Donegal Township
- John S. and Sallie S. Zook, 39-acre dairy farm, Salisbury Township
- Stephen L. and Naomi S. Zook, 79-acre dairy farm, Salisbury Township
Lebanon County – Total investment – $680,417; state – $435,235; county – $245,182
- Clovis A. and Joanna C. Crane, 64-acre equine farm, Bethel Township
- Klaus and Amanda J. Pedersen, 37-acre crop farm, Bethel Township
- Jay L. and Miriam M. Weaver, 166-acre crop and livestock farm, Bethel Township
Lehigh County – Total investment – $829,040; state – $723,168; county – $29,860; Heidelberg Township – $72,362; Lynn Township – $3,650
- Larry L. Grim, 58-acre crop farm, Heidelberg and Lynn Townships
- Michael P. and Abigail A. Gross, 66-acre crop farm, Lynn Township
- Matthew J. Zimmerman and Farrah L. Metzger, 13-acre crop and livestock farm, Heidelberg Township
Luzerne County – Total investment – $555,160; state only
- Raymond H. and Corrine A. Barchik, 115-acre crop and livestock farm, Fairmount Township
- Joseph A. Disabella Sr. and Deborah A. Disabella, 54-acre crop farm, Sugarloaf Township
Mercer County – Total investment – $218,470; state – $206,772; county – $11,698
- Daniel L. Shardy, 206-acre crop and livestock farm, Delaware Township
Mifflin County – Total investment – $73,355; state – $66,690; county – $6,665
- Steven R. and Juanita M. Byler, 51-acre crop farm, Union Township
Montgomery County – Total investment – $216,054; state – $214,028; county – $2,026
- Robert A., Patricia M., and Samuel J. Borneman, 22-acre crop and livestock farm, Upper Hanover Township
Northampton County – Total investment – $537,139; state – $21,331; county – $515,808
- Joseph and Barbara Lobb, 26-acre crop farm, Washington Township
- Roger C.H. and Trudy P. Unangst, 10-acre fruit and vegetable farm, East Allen Township
- Warren Walker Jr. and Christine Ann Walker, 33-acre crop farm, Moore 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. Read more about commonsense investments to keep Pennsylvania agriculture competitive and thriving in Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget and support for Pennsylvania farmers at pa.gov/governor.
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Source: bctv