Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation

Glenn Bell, Ag Resource Specialist BCCD
Did you know that our state leads the nation in the number of farms and acres permanently preserved for agricultural production?  The Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program was created to add resilience to Pennsylvania’s agricultural economy by protecting prime farmland. Through this program, state and county governments (sometimes federal) can purchase conservation easements on farmland which prevents the land from ever being developed. Since its start in 1988, Pennsylvania has preserved roughly 6,400 farms totaling 645,000 acres. 

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So how does Bradford County compare to the rest of the state? Since our first farm in 2004, Bradford County has persevered a total of 20 farms and over 4,800 acres of farmland.  This number may seem small by comparison, especially considering Bradford is the second largest county in the state.  However, it must be kept in mind that funding from the state and county is based on development pressure, something we are lucky enough not to have here.  So, unlike the developing southeastern counties who can preserve several farms a year, we take several years to preserve one.

Now that the history lesson is over, here is a brief explanation of how the program works. Each year we receive an allocated amount of funding from the state and county to preserve farmland.  Landowners with actively farmed land, whether by themselves or others can apply for farmland preservation though the Conservation District. Applications will be ranked based on many factors including percentage of prime farmland, potential for development, proximity to already preserved land, etc.  Once all the applications have been ranked, the top farm(s) will be presented with an offer of up to $1,000 per acre (land can also be donated) to preserve their farm. If they accept, the process of preserving their farm begins. 

Applicants should keep in mind that by preserving their farm, they are preserving it forever.  The land can still be sold; however, the conservation easement is perpetual and will transfer to the new owner.  Landowners are making a multi-generational decision that has restrictions and could affect their options in the future. There will be restrictions on building a residence or subdividing land and preserved farms are also subject to a biannual inspection. On the positive side, the program helps guarantee a future food supply and way of life by keeping agricultural land in production.    If you are interested in applying to the Farmland Preservation Program now is the time. The district is accepting application until January 31st 2025.  If you have questions about the program or would like to apply, please reach out to [email protected] or call 570-485-3130. 

The Bradford County Conservation District is committed to helping people manage resources wisely.  You can visit the Bradford County Conservation District at 200 Lake Rd in Wysox across from the Wysox Fire Hall. Contact us at (570) 485-3144 or visit our web page at www.bccdpa.com.