Harrisburg, Oct. 10, 2013 – Berks County added three farms and more than 170 acres today to the state’s 25-year-old farmland preservation program, Sen. Judy Schwank announced.
“In its silver anniversary, I’m pleased to announce today that an additional 173 acres of Berks County farmland has been added to Pennsylvania’s growing list of protected prime agricultural fields,” Schwank said.
The Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, of which Schwank is a member, approved the preservation of the 74.8-acre Leroy & Lisa Hoover farm in Marion Township, the 12.8-acre Mark & Maryann Martin farm in Maxatawny Township, and the 85.6-acre John & Alma Weaver farm in Richmond Township, Berks County.
The farms are being preserved through the purchase of $433,000 worth of conservation easements.
“Gov. Robert P. Casey had the vision to make sure our invaluable farmland is handed down from generation to generation,” Schwank said. “Twenty-five years later, I think he would be proud of the work Berks County’s farmers have completed to ensure that his – and their – agricultural heritage continue.”
Since its inception in 1988, the commonwealth has protected 4,491 farms totaling more than 480,089 acres. Berks County counts 655 farms in the statewide total and 65,809 acres, and it remains the leading county in the number of acres of farmland that have been preserved.
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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More information on Sen. Schwank is available on her website, Facebook and Twitter.