$6.7M investment supports farmers and sustainable practices

By Blake Jackson

The Shapiro Administration has announced a significant investment of $6,765,102 to purchase development rights for 1,953 acres across 28 farms in 16 counties in Pennsylvania.

This initiative aims to protect these lands from future residential and commercial development, ensuring that farmers have access to high-quality land to support their families, communities, and jobs for generations to come.

“Saving Pennsylvania’s fertile farmland for producing food, rather than losing it to warehouses and suburban sprawl is one of our biggest challenges,” stated Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. He emphasized the competitive pressures farmers face from developers eager to acquire their land, given Pennsylvania's advantageous location near key transportation hubs and a significant portion of the U.S. population. The Shapiro Administration is collaborating with farm families and local governments to safeguard food production and bolster the state’s economy.

These easement purchases complement Pennsylvania's ongoing conservation efforts, which include the $154 million Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP), Clean & Green tax incentives, and $13 million in Resource Enhancement and Protection tax credits.

The support for farmers who work to enhance clean water and healthy soil is at historic levels, reinforcing the state’s commitment to sustainable agriculture.

Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan budget for 2024-25 introduces further investments in agricultural innovation and conservation, including a $10 million Agriculture Innovation Grant, available for applications until November 15, 2024, and an additional $35 million for ACAP, along with $5 million for the Nutrient Management fund.

Since the establishment of the Farmland Preservation Program in 1988, Pennsylvania has emerged as a leader in farmland preservation, safeguarding 6,451 farms and over 643,912 acres across 58 counties, with more than $1.7 billion invested from state, county, and local funds.

The following counties have received funding for easement purchases: Adams, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Cumberland, Franklin, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montgomery, Tioga, and Westmoreland.

For more information, please refer to the detailed list of farms and investment amounts.

Photo Credit: istock-alenamozhjer