By Blake Jackson
Pennsylvania is investing nearly $6.7 million to preserve 1,837 acres of farmland across 19 farms in 16 counties.
This investment, announced by the Shapiro Administration, aims to protect valuable agricultural land from development, ensuring its continued use for food production.
The funds will be used to purchase development rights, preventing the land from being converted to residential or commercial use.
“Food security is national security,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Farmers face fierce competition from developers seeking to buy their land and saving that land to produce food is one of the most important things we can do to ensure that we can keep feeding Pennsylvania and the world. The Shapiro Administration is committed to investing, along with these farm families, to protect our valuable land to feed our families and economy in the future.”
Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget recognizes the vital role of agriculture in Pennsylvania's economy, contributing $132 billion and supporting nearly 600,000 jobs.
The 2025-26 budget proposes further investments in the agricultural sector, including an additional $13 million for the Ag Innovation Fund, $2 million for the new animal testing laboratory, $4 million to connect Pennsylvanians at risk of hunger with local food through PASS, and a $4 million increase for the State Food Purchase Program.
These farmland preservation efforts complement other conservation initiatives, such as the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP), Clean & Green tax incentives, and Resource Enhancement and Protection tax credits.
In 2023 and 2024, Pennsylvania preserved 333 farms and over 27,510 acres, investing more than $96.9 million. The state leads the nation in preserved farmland, with over 6,500 farms and 648,692 acres protected since 1988. This represents a total investment of more than $1.7 billion in state, county, and local funds.
The program partners with county and local governments, as well as non-profit organizations, to purchase development rights. By selling these rights, farmers retain ownership of their land but ensure it will remain in agricultural production.
The preserved farms span various counties, including Adams, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Centre, Columbia, Franklin, Lancaster, Luzerne, Lycoming, Northampton, Perry, Schuylkill, Tioga, Union, and York.
The investment amounts for each county and the specific farms preserved are detailed in the original article. This investment in farmland preservation secures a future for Pennsylvania agriculture and strengthens the state’s food security.
See the list for a breakdown of preserved farms by county, along with the investment of $6,699,378.
Photo Credit: istock-alenamozhjer
Categories: Pennsylvania, Government & Policy