Harrisburg, PA - During the April meeting of the Pennsylvania Agricultural land Preservation Board, an additional 1,792 acres on 32 farms in 14 counties were safeguarded through the state’s nation-leading farmland preservation program.
Since the program began in 1988, federal, state, county and local governments have invested more than $1.3 billion to preserve 520,619 acres on 4,951 farms in 57 counties for future agricultural production.
“Preserving farmland protects the environment and our natural resources, and supports sustainability of Pennsylvania agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “I thank the Pennsylvania farm families that know the importance of preserving our farmland for future generations, and for their foresight to conserve the best of Pennsylvania agriculture.”
The board preserved farms in 14 counties: Adams, Armstrong, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Mifflin, Montgomery, Northampton, Washington and Westmoreland.
The Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program identifies properties and slows the loss of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses. It enables state, county and local governments to purchase conservation easements, also called development rights, from owners of quality farmland.
For more information, visit www.agriculture.pa.gov, click “Encourage,” then “Farmland Preservation.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Logan D. Hall, 717.787.5085
Farms Preserved:
Adams
The Fletcher Farm LLP, a Maryland Limited Liability Partnership farm #3, a 42.77-acre crop farm
Armstrong
The Richard A. Shirey Farm, a 116.117-acre crop farm
Berks
The Kenneth P. and Diane W. Leiby farm #4, a 37.60-acre crop farm
The John R. & Kimberly J. McGrath farm #1, a 61-acre crop farm
The Kathy M. Reifsnyder farm #1, a 34.20-acre crop farm
The Kenneth R. Sholl farm, a 37.10-acre crop farm
Bucks
The David & Roxanne Caccavo farm #2, a 219-acre crop farm
The Gladys Springer Estate (Papa Farm), a 64.59-acre crop farm
Chester
The Nelson R. and Marilyn Lois Beam farm, a 52.50-acre crop and livestock operation
The Brown Partnership farm #2, a 48.73-acre crop farm
The Roger and Lisa Elvin farm, a 31.67-acre horse farm
The Noah H. and Rachel N. Martin farm, a 103.30-acre crop and livestock operation
The LP Warwick-Yoder farm, a 73.31-acre crop farm
Cumberland
The Donald A. McKeehan and Jessica E. Chestnut farm, a 30-acre crop farm
Lancaster
The Randall S. and Christine L. Andrews farm, a 27.56-acre crop farm
The P and B Brubacher and L. and M. Martin farm, a 19.15-acre crop farm
The Keith D. and Megan L. Frey farm, a 32.72-acre crop and livestock operation
The John L. and Marcia L. Harnish farm, a 53.64-acre crop farm
The Arlan Jay and J. Louise Kurtz farm, a 97.37-acre crop and livestock operation
The Carolyn M. and Andy H. Martin farm, a 70.94-acre crop farm
The M. Stephen, C. Brian and Debra Martin farm, a 72.03-acre crop farm
The J. Stephen Smith and Candice Morse-Smith farm, a 39.83-acre crop and livestock operation
Lebanon
The David L., Louis A. and Michael G. Rotunda farm, a 61.34-acre crop farm
The Sharon L. Wampler farm, a 27-acre crop farm
Lehigh
The Sara T. DuPont farm, a 17.84-acre crop farm
The Janette B. Pireda farm, a 14.51-acre livestock operation
The William G. Roy farm, a 53.31-acre crop farm
Mifflin
The Robert et al Stayrook farm #1, a 77.76-acre crop farm
Montgomery
The Phillip & Christine McMahon farm #1, a 34.15-acre livestock operation
Northampton
The Moore Township farm, a 38.05-acre crop farm
Washington
The Plantation Plenty, LLC farm #2, a 20.22-acre livestock operation
Westmoreland
The Thomas E. & Belinda M. Derr farm #1, an 82.72-acre crop and livestock operation
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