April 14, 2016
HARRISBURG, April 14, 2016 – The number of acres of Berks County agricultural land protected by Pennsylvania’s farmland preservation program eclipsed 70,000 today, state Sen. Judy Schwank said.
The milestone happened when the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, of which Schwank is a member, added four more Berks County farms, totaling 169.9 acres, to its ag easement list.
“Nearly 110 square miles of Berks County are now dedicated to all things agriculture,” Sen. Schwank said. “This is a remarkable achievement and something for every Berks County resident to be proud about reaching.”
The four farms added to the farmland preservation program received total ag easements of $424,750. The tracts are owned by:
- Kenneth & Diane Leiby, Perry Township, 37.6 acres
- John & Kimberly McGrath, Amity Township, 61 acres
- Kathy M. Reifsnyder, Upper Tulpehocken Township, 34.2 acres
- Kenneth R. Sholl, Bethel Township, 37.1 acres
Berks County now has 709 farms – and 70,031 acres – in the state’s farmland preservation program. Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the program.
Since the farmland preservation program started in 1988, Pennsylvania has protected 4,951 farms totaling 520,619 acres.
For more information on PA’s farmland preservation program, visit the Bureau of Farmland Preservation’s website.
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December 10, 2015
HARRISBURG, Dec. 10, 2015 – Pennsylvania’s farmland preservation program approved the entry of three Berks County farms today, bringing the number of local tracts protected from future development to 700, state Sen. Judy Schwank said today.
“Berks County loves its farms and ag-related industries, and protecting our 700th farm is significant and praise-worthy,” Sen. Schwank, a member of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, said following the panel’s approval of today’s applications. “My thanks to the owners of these three farms for recognizing their role in agriculture and acting to make sure their land will continue to produce delicious food for years to come.
The three farms added to the farmland preservation program received total ag easements of about $266,000. They include:
- John T. Bicksler, Tulpehocken Township, 15.3 acres
- Daniel and Melanie Hetrick, Upper Bern Township, 50 acres, and
- Hoppes, Kehl and Reinert families, Oley Township, 41.2 acres
Berks County now has 700 farms – and 69,468 acres – in the state’s farmland preservation program. Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the program.
Since the farmland preservation program started in 1988, the commonwealth has protected 4,892 farms totaling 516,417 acres with nearly $1.29 billion in easements.
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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June 11, 2015
HARRISBURG, June 11, 2015 – Berks County’s farmland preservation movement expanded today when a state panel added another 280 acres to the commonwealth’s preservation program.
Sen. Judy Schwank, who is a member of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, said the group added the acreage with its purchase of conservation easements for three farms:
Glenn Henne/Rebecca DeBenedictis, JeffersonTownship 42.8 acres
Steven Henne, Upper Tulpehocken Township 88.7 acres
Daniel Unterkofler, Centre Township 148.1 acres
“Glenn and Rebecca, Steven, and Daniel have stepped up to make sure their land is used for farming and agriculture for decades to come and we should all feel good about that,” Schwank said. “Berks County now has 695 farms – and 69,307 acres in the state’s farmland preservation program. This is money well spent.”
Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the program.
Today’s easement for the three farms totaled $699,000.
Since the farmland preservation program started in 1988, the commonwealth has protected 4,802 farms totaling 508,478 acres with nearly $1.29 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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Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
April 16, 2015
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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June 12, 2014
HARRISBURG, June 12, 2014 – A 25-acre Berks County farm has become the latest to be protected from future development under the state’s farmland preservation program, Sen. Judy Schwank said today.
The John and Marie Hill farm in Perry Township was added to the fold following the purchase of agricultural easements.
“Berks County is a leader in farmland preservation and it is good to know another 25 acres will continue as prime agricultural land for years to come,” Schwank said.
The 24.7 acres of easements are valued at more than $61,000 and were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, of which Schwank is a member.
The commonwealth has protected 4,612 farms totaling 491,423 acres since the program’s inception in 1988. In Berks County, 675 farms consisting of 67,691 acres have been preserved. Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the state program.
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.
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.
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Follow Sen. Schwank on her website, Facebook and Twitter.
April 19, 2012
HARRISBURG, April 19, 2012 — An additional 57 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $143,000 dollars that were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank, a Preservation Board member.
According to the senator, the following farm will be preserved:
Family Municipality Acres Preserved
Mark and Kim Weber Brecknock Twsp. 57.20
“It’s important that we not only protect our farmlands but help our farming families continue to thrive because they are helping to sustain our state’s number one industry, agriculture,” Schwank said. “Thanks to the preservation board, another family farm has been preserved.”
Statewide, 4,265 farms totaling 461,206 acres have been preserved since the program’s inception. In Berks County 636 farms consisting of 64,460 acres have been preserved. Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the state program.
The Agricultural Land Preservation Board is intended to permanently preserve large clusters of viable agricultural lands by acquiring agricultural conservation easements (ACE). An ACE prevents the development of the land for any purpose besides productive agriculture.
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