HARRISBURG – Additional acres of farmland in the 23rd Senate District will be protected for future generations following recent approval of the purchase of conservation easements by the state Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23).
Two local crop and livestock operations were part of 3,047 acres across the state and 32 farms in 21 counties that were preserved during the meeting. The local operations include:
- Tioga County – David L. and Julie A. Hess Farm, Jackson Township, a 239-acre dairy farm; Total investment – $292,167.00 ($251,835 state, $40,332 county).
- Union County – The Leroy F. and Barbara Ann Troester #1 Farm, Limestone and Buffalo townships, a 134-acre crop farm; Total investment – $379,706.58 ($79,226 state, $300,480 county).
“Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural heritage is something that must be protected for future generations,” Sen. Yaw said. “It’s a public policy that works, and something we can all agree on.”
The Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program, as it is formally known, is dedicated to slowing the loss of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses. Funding allows state, county and local governments to purchase conservation easements from owners of quality farmland. State, county, local and federal funds committed during the board’s meeting are allocated to county programs to purchase development rights to preserve farms on county waiting lists.
“The Commonwealth’s achievements have been remarkable examples of teamwork on the part of each county, the State Farmland Preservation Board and the Department of Agriculture,” Yaw added. “Pennsylvania is certainly setting the standard in farmland preservation.”
To learn more about Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program, visit www.agriculture.pa.gov.
For more state-related news and information, visit Senator Yaw’s website at www.SenatorGeneYaw.com or on Facebook and Twitter @SenatorGeneYaw.