The Shapiro Administration has announced a $10.2 million investment to preserve 2,842 acres of farmland across Pennsylvania, including three farms in Berks County. This effort aims to protect prime agricultural land from development and ensure its availability for farming in the future. Berks County will benefit from a $760,925 investment, funded through a combination of $708,288 from the state and $52,637 from the county.
The investment will preserve three farms in Berks County: Samuel F. and Sadie G. Lapp Farm: A 45-acre crop and livestock farm in Bethel Township. Willard R. and JoAnn Shirey Farm: A 78-acre crop and livestock farm in Alsace Township. Kevin L. Stein Farm: A 147-acre crop farm in Bethel Township.
Statewide, this investment contributes to the preservation of 167 farms and 13,847 acres of farmland in 2024 alone, bringing the total land preserved since 1988 to 6,482 farms and 646,754 acres across 58 counties. The program ensures that Pennsylvania remains a national leader in farmland preservation, safeguarding agricultural land from residential and commercial development.
“Saving farmland for producing food, rather than losing it to warehouses and sprawl is an investment we can’t afford not to make,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Farmers face fierce competition from developers seeking to buy their land. The Shapiro Administration is committed to joining farm families and county and local government to protect our valuable land as an investment that will feed our families and economy in the future.”
The farmland preservation initiative works through partnerships between the state, counties, and sometimes local governments or nonprofits. Farmers sell the development rights to their land, ensuring it remains dedicated to agricultural use. In addition to this program, Pennsylvania supports farmers through other initiatives, such as the $154 million Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP), Clean & Green tax incentives, and $13 million annually in Resource Enhancement and Protection tax credits.
To further bolster the state’s agricultural future, Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget proposes an additional $35 million for ACAP, $10 million for a new Agriculture Innovation Grant, and $5 million for the Nutrient Management Fund.
For more information about Pennsylvania’s farmland preservation efforts, visit agriculture.pa.gov.