Over the course of 2023, the administration of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro invested more than $46 million to protect farms from residential or commercial development.
In December alone, the administration said, more than $8.7 million was used to purchase land development rights for 30 farms in 21 Pennsylvania counties, bringing the total invested to $46.2 million to protect more than 13,663 acres on 166 farms. The investment is part of Shapiro’s efforts to preserve prime farmland across the state.
“Without prime farmland, we simply don’t have the resources to grow food and supply the $132.5 billion our industry feeds into our economy every year,” state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Pennsylvania farm families who sell their land development rights are leaving a legacy that ensures Pennsylvania families will have green spaces and healthy farmland available to produce food, income, and jobs.”
Pennsylvania is the leading state in the country when it comes to preserving farmland. Since 1988, the state has protected 6,314 farms and 632,856 acres in 58 counties as part of the Farmland Preservation Program. The state has invested more than $1.69 billion in state, county and local funds.
As part of the program, the state partners with county and local governments to purchase development rights, thus ensuring the farm’s future. By selling their land’s development rights, farm owners ensure the farms will stay farms and never be sold to developers.
Lehigh County received the most investment at $1.45 million, followed by Montgomery County at $1.42 million and Berks County at $1.01 million.