HARRISBURG, April 16, 2015 – Berks County’s reputation as a leader in farmland preservation grew by another 406 acres today when the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board added five farms to the historic program.
The preservation board, of which Sen. Judy Schwank is a member, valued the tracts at $1,015,000.
Berks County now has 692 farms and 69,028 acres that are being protected from future development by their inclusion in the program.
“It takes dedicated farmers who, despite the challenges of farming, want and plan to continue producing delicious foods for our tables,” Schwank said. “Working to preserve farms in Berks County and across the commonwealth is a great mission, and it is helping us to ensure the availability and affordability of nutritious meat, vegetables, and dairy for generations to come.”
The conservation easements approved today by the board were paid to the following Berks County land owners:
- Lottie and Richard Berger – Greenwich Township,103.8 acres
- Christopher J. Hartman – Oley Township, 23.8 acres
- Glenn and Nancy Hoffman – Hereford Township,74 acres
- Phares & Ellen Newswanger – Maxatawny Township, 93.1 acres
- Kenneth Sanner – Greenwich Township, 111.1 acres
Since its inception in 1988, the commonwealth has protected 4,782 farms totaling 506,761 acres with nearly $1.4 billion in easements.
Local, county or state government – or any combination of the three – may buy easements. Counties that decide to have an easement purchase program must create an agricultural land preservation board.
The long-term goal of the state’s program is to permanently preserve farmland. The holders of the easements have the right to prevent development or improvements of the land for purposes other than agricultural production.
For more information on PA’s farmland preservation program, visit the Bureau of Farmland Preservation’s website.
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