HARRISBURG, Pa. — Farmland in 20 Pennsylvania counties will remain viable for agricultural production thanks to the June 19 approval of more than 6,400 acres on 58 farms by the state Farmland Preservation Board.
The latest preserved farms are in the following counties: Bedford, Berks, Butler, Bucks, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Mifflin, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Susquehanna, Union, Washington and York.
A joint state, county and township investment of nearly $22.78 million will secure 58 additional farms and 6,422 acres in the 20 counties.
Board member
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Bill Wehry welcomed Jo Ellen Litz, a Lebanon County commissioner who joined the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board in April. Litz served on the Lebanon County Farmland Preservation Board from 1990-1996, and was a member of the county’s Conservation District Board for 13 years. She succeeds Warren Elliot on the board.
In total, Pennsylvania has preserved 3,579 farms and 395,636 acres, making it the national leader in farmland preservation. Later this summer, the state will celebrate its 400,000 acre preservation milestone.
