Pennsylvania to invest over $9.9 million to protect farmer’s land

(WHTM) — Pennsylvania is investing over $9.9 million to purchase development rights for 2,654 acres on 30 farms in 14 counties, protecting them from any future residential or commercial development, the Shapiro Administration announced.

The Shapiro Administration says these purchases will ensure that local farmers across the state will have the necessary quality land to continue supporting communities and jobs.

“Pennsylvania is a great place to do business,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Our location near ports, interstates, railways, and 40 percent of the U.S. population means farmers face fierce competition from developers seeking to buy their land. Saving fertile farmland for producing food, rather than losing it to warehouses and suburban sprawl is a critical investment the Shapiro Administration is making along with farm families and county and local governments to feed our families, and our economy, and our future together.”

These purchases multiply the impact of Pennsylvania dollars invested in conservation initiatives, according to the administration. These initiatives include the $154 million Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP), the $13 million in Resource Enhancement and Protection tax credits, and Clean and Green tax incentives.

Additionally, these purchases will multiply support for Pennsylvania farmers who are conserving and enhancing clean water and healthy soil.

Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserved farmland. Since the creation of the 1988 Farmland Preservation Program, it has protected 6,422 farms and 641,908 acres across 58 counties for future development, says the Shapiro Administration.

The state will purchase development rights to land, ensuring that land will never be sold to developers.

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