The state Department of Agriculture has announced the preservation of 2,079 acres on 24 farms in townships located in 14 counties through the state’s Farmland Preservation Program. This program protects farms from future residential, commercial, or industrial development.  

“When farms are sold to become warehouses or housing developments, they are gone forever, along with the food, fuel, and fiber they produced,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “High-quality farmland is one of Pennsylvania’s most valuable economic assets.  

The newly preserved farms are in townships in Adams, Berks, Blair, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Mifflin, Perry, Westmoreland, and York 

counties. Most farms were preserved with a combination of state and county funds. North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, invested $149,744 in township funds to help preserve a 67-acre crop farm. Warwick Township, Lancaster County, contributed $45,000 to preserve a 74-acre crop farm. To learn more about the preserved farms, click here.