Governor Rendell Says Pennsylvania, Berks County Achieve Farmland Preservation Milestones

Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board set a new record today by securing 7,122 acres on 75 farms, the most ever approved in a single meeting, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.

The approved farmland included 14 Berks County farms, which gives the county a statewide high of 50,000 acres preserved, Governor Rendell said.

"Pennsylvania is the national leader in farmland preservation, allowing production agriculture to remain a viable industry in the state," said Governor Rendell. "Agriculture is Pennsylvania's economic driver and the state's number one industry. Every measure must be taken to secure its future for the benefit of our producers and consumers."

The achievement was celebrated at the Benjamin and Patricia Scheffler Farm, a 113-acre crop and beef farm that was approved for preservation in June. The 75 farms preserved today are located in 22 counties: Adams, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Erie, Fayette, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Susquehanna and York.

"We are extremely proud to announce the preservation of more than 50,000 acres of Pennsylvania farmland in Berks County," said Wolff. "The commonwealth's longstanding history of leadership in agriculture is evident with our continued success of the farmland preservation program. Today's milestone strengthens that reputation, ensuring that agricultural land will be available for future farmers."

Pennsylvania is the national leader in farmland preservation, with 3,348 farms and 372,676 acres preserved. Under the department's farmland preservation program, Berks County leads the state in the number of acres preserved and ranks second in farms preserved with 52,509 acres and 484 farms. Since 1989, the state has committed more than $60 million to Berks County's farmland preservation efforts, supplementing the county's $61.8 million contribution.

This year, Pennsylvania is allocating nearly $40 million for the preservation program, including $4 million from Growing Greener II, Governor Rendell's initiative that supports environmental programs in the state. County programs will contribute $37 million in matching funds to protect quality farmland from development and non-agricultural uses. Combined, this $77 million can preserve an additional 38,500 acres or more than 300 farms.

The state's farmland preservation program works through the Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program, which was developed 18 years ago to help slow the loss of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses. The program enables state, county and local governments to purchase conservation easements, also called development rights, from owners of quality farmland.

For more information on the farmland preservation program, visit http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on 'Producers.'

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us.

CONTACT:
Teresa Candori
717-783-1116

Kristi L. Rooker (Ag)
717-787-5085