Six СŷƵ farms, totaling 206 acres, will be preserved under a state investment program that protects them from future residential or commercial development.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office announced Thursday that more than 2,672 acres on 35 farms in 18 counties were part of a $9.9 million investment in state, county and local funds.
“Preserving Pennsylvania farmland is an investment in the future of our economy and farm families,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “When that land is lost to development, we lose one of our most valuable economic assets. The Shapiro Administration continues to stand up for Pennsylvania’s farmers by supporting the contributions they have made to seal our reputation as a national leader, and by investing to protect and improve the resources they need tomorrow, and the innovations that will keep PA on top.”
The three Lehigh County farms preserved in this round had an investment of $829,040, including $723,168 from the state, $29,860 from the county, $72,362 from Heidelberg Township and $3,650 from Lynn Township. They are:
- Larry L. Grim’s 58-acre crop farm in Heidelberg and Lynn townships.
- Michael P. and Abigail A. Gross’ 66-acre crop farm in Lynn Township.
- Matthew J. Zimmerman and Farrah L. Metzger’s 13-acre crop and livestock farm in Heidelberg Township.
The three Northampton County farms had an investment of $537,139, including $21,331 from the state and $515,808 from the county. They are:
- Joseph and Barbara Lobb’s 26-acre crop farm in Washington Township.
- Roger C.H. and Trudy P. Unangst’s 10-acre fruit and vegetable farm in East Allen Township.
- Warren Walker Jr. and Christine Ann Walker’s 33-acre crop farm in Moore Township.
The state partners with county and sometimes local governments and nonprofits to buy development rights. By selling development rights, property owners ensure that their properties will remain productive farms and never be sold to developers.
According to its website, Lehigh County has 403 preserved farms covering more than 28,000 acres. Northampton County has a similar program that has preserved 251 farms covering more than 19,000 acres since 1989.
Since 1988, Pennsylvania has protected 6,564 farms and 654,551 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.7 billion in state, county and local funds.
Outside of the СŷƵ, farmland was also preserved in Adams, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Chester, Crawford, Erie, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mercer, Mifflin and Montgomery counties.
