- More than 100 acres on four farms in Lehigh and Northampton counties were preserved
- The development rights were sold for more than $675,000
- It's part of a statewide preservation program
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — More than 100 acres of Lehigh Valley farmland has been preserved as part of an $8.64 million statewide effort to ward off development and protect open spaces.
Lehigh County farms preserved include: Dominick Basciano and Jane B. Heft Farm, a 27-acre crop farm in Upper Saucon Township; Beth Ann Kramer Farm, a 41-acre crop and livestock farm in Weisenberg Township; and Paul D. Nester Farm, a 14-acre crop farm in Lynn Township.
It cost just shy of $528,000, officials said, with $423,000 from the state, $75,000 from the county and $29,000 in township funds.
In Northampton County, the Jason J. and Kelly Hankee Farm, a 22-acre crop farm in Lehigh Township, was preserved.
The investment totaled $147,902, with more than $10,000 from the state and $137,000 from the county.
"Pennsylvania has led that charge, and families who preserve their farms join forces with government, investing together to ensure that future Pennsylvania families will have green spaces and healthy farmland available to produce food, income and jobs."State Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding
"'No farms, no food' is the battle cry for farmland preservation across the country," state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in a Friday news release.
"Pennsylvania has led that charge, and families who preserve their farms join forces with government, investing together to ensure that future Pennsylvania families will have green spaces and healthy farmland available to produce food, income and jobs."
The effort links state leaders with county and, sometimes, local governments and nonprofits to purchase development rights, according to the release.
By selling their lands' development rights, owners can ensure their farms never will be sold to developers.
More than 2,600 acres on 35 farms in 18 counties were preserved, “forever protecting them from future residential or commercial development,” officials said.
Since 1988, when voters overwhelmingly supported the creation of the Farmland Preservation Program, the commonwealth has protected 6,266 farms and 628,967 acres in 58 counties from future development, officials said, investing nearly $1.68 billion in state, county and local funds.
