Pennsylvania sets national farmland preservation record: 350,000 acres

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania set a national record recently by reaching 350,000 acres of preserved farmland, said Gov. Edward G. Rendell.
Record numbers. The milestone was reached when the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board voted to preserve 70 farms, which also happens to be the highest number of farms ever approved at a single meeting.
“Pennsylvania is the national leader in farmland preservation, allowing production agriculture to remain a viable industry in the state,” said Rendell.
The achievement was celebrated at the Fred and Grace Yearick Farm in Clinton County. The 79-acre crop farm was preserved and also recognized by Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff as a Century Farm.
The Century and Bicentennial Farm program acknowledges Pennsylvania farms that have been in operation for more than 100 and 200 years. There are nearly 1,920 farms with this distinction across the state.
Integral. “Agriculture is an integral part of Pennsylvania life. It’s part of our rich heritage and it will play a leading role in our future,” said Wolff.
“By preserving 350,000 acres, we are preserving a part of our history and culture for present and future generations, and making an investment in our future economic well-being at the same time.”
The board preserved 5,633 acres on 70 farms in Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Berks, Butler, Cambria, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fayette, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Perry, Snyder, Sullivan, Wayne, Westmoreland and York counties.
The Armstrong County farm is the first within the county to be preserved.