Department of Agriculture Invests $5 Million To Protect 22 Farms, 2,038 Acres In 13 Counties From Future Development

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced that Pennsylvania protected 2,038 acres on 22 farms in 13 counties from future residential or commercial development. The investment of nearly $5 million in state, county, and local dollars preserves prime farmland for the future.

“Fertile, healthy farmland and clean water are critical to our economy and our future,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “The families who preserve their farms are forging a partnership with government, investing together in ensuring that future Pennsylvania families will have food, green spaces, income, and jobs.”

Since 1988, Pennsylvania has protected 6,202 farms and 624,277 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.6 billion in state, county, and local funds. Pennsylvania continues to lead the nation in preserved farmland.

Pennsylvania partners with county and sometimes local governments and non-profits to purchase development rights, ensuring a strong future for farming and food security. By selling their land’s development rights, farm owners ensure that their farms will remain farms and never be sold to developers.

Farms preserved today and dollars invested, by county (listed alphabetically):

• Berks County – Total investment – $897,598, $856,439 state, $41,159 county
  • Boyd Revocable Living Trust, William T. and Karen A. Boyd, trustees, Longswamp Township, a 67-acre crop farm
  • Cedar Creek Dairy, LLC, Upper Tulpehocken Township, a 43-acre crop farm
  • The Henry L. and Madeline M. Seidel Farm, Greenwich Township, a 122-acre crop farm
  • The Barry A. Smith Farm, Greenwich Township, a 95-acre crop and livestock farm
• Blair County– Total investment – $128,578 state only
  • The Linda M. Longenecker Farm, Huston Township, a 76-acre crop farm
• Cambria County– Total investment – $239,876, $229,876 state, $10,000 county
  • The Floyd M. and Marian D. Farabaugh Farm #3, Cambria Township, a 175-acre crop farm
• Centre County – Total investment – $1,003.224, $840,674 state, $150,000 county, $12,550 township
  • The Cynthia A. Barker Farm, Potter Township, a 79-acre crop farm
  • The Larry F., Suzanne M., and Dawn L. Harpster Farm, Ferguson Township, a 108-acre crop and livestock farm
  • Strickler Living Trust, Walker Township, a 78-acre crop farm
• Crawford County– Total investment – $100,931, $99,931 state, $1,000 county
  • The Levi A. and Susan M. Byler Farm, East Fallowfield Township, an 89-acre crop farm
• Cumberland County – Total investment – $1,090,994 state only
  • The Gary E. and Christine K. Biddle Farm #2, Silver Spring Township, a 147-acre crop farm
  • The Neil C. and Heather J. Darhower Farm, Lower Frankford Township, a 150-acre beef farm
  • The Morgan E. Constance Farm, Southampton Township, a 53-acre crop farm
• Lackawanna County – Total investment – $144,557, state only
  • The Darren W. and Lisa D. Maria Farm #2, Benton Township, a 61-acre crop farm
• Lebanon County – Total investment – $246,696, $153,176 state, $93,520 county
  • The Richard L. Jr. and Michelle L. Ober Farm, South Londonderry Township, a 97-acre crop and livestock farm
• Lehigh County – Total investment – $211,219, $10,519 state, $200,700 county
  • The Elizabeth LaFrenz farm, Lower Milford Township, a 33-acre horse farm
• Luzerne County – Total investment – $191,498 state only
  • The Matthew S. Balliet Farm, Butler Township, a 54-acre crop and livestock farm
• Mercer County– Total investment – $155,880, $110,680 state, $45,200 county
  • The Robert L. and Nancy E. Witt Farm, New Vernon Township, a 150-acre crop farm
• Union County – Total investment – $328,322, $328,320 state, $2 county
  • The Margaret I. Harris Farm #2, Limestone and West Buffalo Townships, a 99-acre sheep farm
  • The Sandra S. Sanders Family Protection Trust, Matthew J. and Jeffrey A. Sanders, trustees, Union Township, a 115-acre crop farm
  • The Danielle D.J. Stewart and David Knox Farm, White Deer Township, a 46-acre crop farm
• York County – Total investment – $252,185, $4,852 state, $247,333 county
  • The David J. Schmidt Farm #1, Hopewell Township, a 102-acre crop farm

These investments will multiply public dollars invested in conservation initiatives, including the recently launched $154 million Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program, supporting farmers’ efforts to reduce water pollution and improve soil quality. Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program secured a $7.85 million federal grant from USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program to support climate-smart conservation on preserved Pennsylvania farms, an investment that will not only improve conservation efforts, but help measure their impact.

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