Senate passes farmland preservation bill

The state Senate recently passed a bill that would boost Pennsylvania’s farmland preservation efforts.

Senate Bill 881 would direct a portion of existing farmland preservation funding to private land trusts. It would require the trusts to provide matching funds to generate new private funding for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund and for Land Trust Reimbursement Program.

Land trusts are groups that take stewardship over a property with the permission of the landowner.

“We have had tremendous success with our program, and it has become a model for other states to follow,” Sen. Scott Martin (R-Lancaster County), who sponsored the bill, said. “The goal now is to find ways to make the program even stronger and preserve more farms without asking taxpayers to commit more money. Land trusts have a proven track record of success, especially in working with farmers who are reluctant to work with the government, such as the plain sect community. Expanding eligibility will ensure that more of our pristine farmland will remain in productive use for generations to come.”

The bill moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Pennsylvania has permanently preserved 552,702 acres for agricultural production on 5,329 farms, more than any other state.