Franklin County Achieves Major Farmland Preservation Milestone

Franklin County, Pennsylvania, has reached a significant milestone in its commitment to agricultural preservation, with over 20,000 acres of prime farmland now protected from non-agricultural development. This achievement, celebrated by county commissioners, agricultural organizations, and state and local officials, underscores a sustained effort to safeguard the county’s agricultural heritage and economy. The preservation of farmland is crucial for maintaining the viability of family farms and ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to continue agricultural practices in the region.

The 20,000th acre to be preserved was part of a 114-acre agricultural easement acquired earlier this year in Peters Township. This particular farm, owned by Daniel and Amy Hershberger, marks the 164th farm to be protected since Franklin County joined Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program in 1990. As of the recent announcement, the county has a total of 170 farms under preservation, encompassing more than 20,600 acres. This initiative is seen as a vital counterbalance to the increasing pressure of farmland conversion for purposes such as warehousing or large-scale solar installations.

The importance of agriculture to Franklin County’s identity and economy was highlighted during a celebration at Creekside Dairy in Hamilton Township. This location also served as the site for the Franklin County Farm Bureau’s annual Franklin Fall Farm Fun Fest, an event designed to educate the public about the agricultural sector and its economic contributions. Agribusiness is a significant driver for both the local and state economies, with Franklin County ranking fifth in Pennsylvania for annual agricultural cash receipts, exceeding $655 million. The county holds a leading position in the state for the production of vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, and is a major producer of milk, grains, fruits, berries, and cattle.

County officials emphasized that programs like the Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program are instrumental in leveraging taxpayer funds to protect the farmland that defines Franklin County. This statewide program allows participating counties to purchase conservation easements from landowners, thereby slowing the loss of productive farmland to non-agricultural uses. Landowners interested in preserving their farms apply to their respective counties. Applications are evaluated based on criteria such as soil quality, agricultural productivity potential, and historical significance. Approved applications are then forwarded to the State Agricultural Land Preservation Board for final consideration.

Franklin County is one of 58 counties in Pennsylvania that actively participates in this easement purchase program. The program operates through a collaborative funding model, where state, county, and local governments contribute to the purchase of easements. This cooperative investment helps to maximize the impact of preservation efforts. Since 1990, Franklin County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and local municipalities have collectively invested over $45 million in these preservation initiatives. This commitment places Franklin County among the top counties in the state, ranking tenth for total acres preserved.

On a broader scale, Pennsylvania is a national leader in agricultural preservation, boasting the highest number of farms and the largest acreage of farmland permanently protected for agricultural production in the United States. Since 1988, the state has dedicated more than $1.775 billion from state, county, and local sources to farmland preservation, resulting in the protection of over 6,500 farms and more than 656,000 acres across the commonwealth.

Residents interested in learning more about Franklin County’s agricultural land preservation efforts can find additional information on the county’s website at http://www.franklincountypa.gov/programs. Direct inquiries can also be made to the Franklin County Planning Department by calling 717-261-3855 or emailing planning@franklincountypa.gov.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Franklin County Commissioners

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