In response to this issue, Pennsylvania legislators worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the counties to develop a very effective method for farmland preservation.  In this county/state purchase of development rights program, farm owners are paid for their development rights and the farm remains as available farmland.  As of May 2006, 2,750 farms, totaling 300,000 acres, have been preserved statewide.  Lehigh County has preserved 186 farms for a total of 15,920 acres; Northampton County has preserved 65 farms for a total of 7,804 acres; Bucks County has preserved 394 farms for a total of 44,858 acres. Pennsylvania ranks number one nationwide for acres of farmland preserved.  

This state/county funded program protects farmland from conversion to other uses into perpetuity.  These farms will be available for agricultural use for future generations.  Another benefit of these preserved farms is that they are generally more affordable for new farmers to purchase and get established in a farming business. 

Lehigh County Agricultural Land Preservation Program
610-391-9583

Northampton County Farmland Preservation
610-746-1993

Monroe County Agricultural Preservation Program
570-517-3100

Carbon County Agricultural Land Preservation Board
Duane Dellecker 610-852-5111