Pennsylvania protected 1,999 acres on 21 farms through the state’s Farmland Preservation Program.
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Since 1988, the program has purchased permanent conservation easements on 5,949 Pennsylvania farms, covering 603,646 acres, in 58 counties, ensuring they will remain farms in the future.
"Farmland preservation provides a secure pathway for future generations to succeed,†said Secretary Redding. “It ensures future agriculturalists have land to farm, and in return, consumers will have food on the table. Once farmland goes out of production, it rarely comes back, which is why farmland preservation is so important.â€
Purchases include:
• Dillner Family Farms, a fourth-generation 79.35-acre fruit, vegetable and livestock operation located in West Deer Township, Allegheny County
• The AgKam LLC farm, a 160.12-acre beef operation located in Charleston Township, Tioga County
• The Samuel Valone farm, a 45.39-acre vineyard located in North East Township, Erie County
The 21 farms preserved today are in:
• Allegheny County (total investment - $661,270.00, state only,)
• Beaver County (total investment - $171,252.10state; $52,400 county),
• Berks County (total investment - $350,950.09 state; $132,150 county),
• Bucks County (total investment $2,364,089.30 state; $397,535.70 county),
• Chester County (total investment $18,861.94 state, $497,728.17 county),
• Cumberland County ( total investment $149,549.00 state, $50,000 county),
• Erie County (total investment $95,966.34 state only),
• Lebanon County (total investment $233,328.95 state, $67,223.50),
• Lehigh County (total investment $955,501.71 state; $3,433.70 county),
• Northampton County (total investment $435,551.20 state; $151,309.60 county),
• Tioga County (total investment $182,980.00 state; $12,964.00 county),
• Union County (total investment $21,225.08 state; $202,450.33 county ) and
• York County (total investment $311,875.96 state; $662,892.00 county)
These farms include produce, crop and livestock operations. ■