Pennsylvania
Why Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserving agricultural farmland
Soil health and rainfall maximization shown in simulator
The event included a rainfall simulator by the Natural Resources and Conservation Service, showing how to use soil health principles to maximize rainfall for on-farm resilience.
Two farms in Beaver and Somerset counties will be preserved for farming now that Pennsylvania has purchased the development rights to those properties.
The Shapiro administration announced in February that state and county governments bought the development rights to 25 farms in 17 counties, investing $7.1 million under Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program to ensure the 1,905 acres of land included on those farms would always be used for agricultural purposes and not sold to residential or commercial developers.
In Beaver County, the development rights on a 62-acre crop and livestock farm in Hanover Township, owned by William McNary Jr. and Deborah K. McNary, were purchased for $234,140, using state funds.
In Somerset County, the development rights on a 125-acre crop and livestock farm in Somerset Township, owned by Tim E. Bell, Thomas E. Bell and Suzanne K. Bell, were purchased by state and local governments for $187,104, with the state paying $181,635 and the county paying $5,469.
“Farmland tells the story of Pennsylvania, of generations who worked the land, cared for its resources and built communities that endure,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding in the Feb. 12 announcement.
“In this America250 year, and through the 2025-26 budget, the Shapiro administration is honoring that legacy by protecting our land, water and soil, supporting the next generation of farmers and investing in the innovation and infrastructure that will sustain Pennsylvania agriculture for generations to come.”
Pennsylvania voters approved the creation of the Farmland Preservation Program in 1988, and since then, 6,673 farms and 662,940 acres of farmland have been preserved for agricultural production across 58 counties, the announcement said.
Agriculture contributes $132.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy and supports almost 600,000 jobs, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.