Harrisburg, Oct. 8, 2015 – Additional acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved following today’s approval of the purchase of conservation easements by the state Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks).

Schwank, who is a preservation board member, said that nearly 15 acres of farmland in Perry Township belonging to Marie M. Hill valued at $35,000 will be preserved from non-agricultural development.

“It is critical that farming remains viable and it can be if farmland is protected from commercial development,” Schwank said. “The work of preserving farms is on-going and the board needs to continue bringing more farmland into the program.

“Farming is an economic powerhouse and a leading industry in Pennsylvania and it can only stay vibrant if land is preserved for generations to come.”

Pennsylvania is a national leader in preserving farmland. The Pennsylvania farmland preservation program went into effect in 1988 and the first conservation easement was purchased in December 1989.

Statewide 4,860 farms totaling 514,022 acres have been preserved since the program’s inception. In Berks County, 697 farms consisting of 69,361 acres have been preserved. Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the state program.

“As someone who has worked on farming issues and with farmers for generations, I am proud that Berks County has more acreage protected than any other county in the entire state,” Schwank said. “The new 15 acre parcel in Berks that has been preserved will add even more depth to the program in the county.”

Schwank has long been involved in agriculture and farming issues. Previously, she served as horticultural agent for Penn State Cooperative Extension and established the Master Gardener Program. She was also director of the Berks County Cooperative Extension Program. Schwank is currently the Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

The Agricultural Land Preservation Board has 17 members. It is responsible for distributing funds in addition to monitoring county preservation programs.

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