Washington County Secures Additional Farmland Preservation, Nearing Significant Milestone

Washington County, Maryland, has announced the successful preservation of an additional 15.22 acres of agricultural land in Smithsburg, a move that brings the county closer to its goal of preserving nearly 43,000 acres. The recent acquisition, finalized on December 23, protects a crop farm located on Itnyre Road and was facilitated through funding from the Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industries Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) under its Small Acreage Next Generation Farmland Acquisition (SANG) Program. This initiative not only contributes to the ongoing viability of agricultural land in the region but also aims to support neighboring landowners in their own conservation efforts.

The SANG and Next Generation Farmland Acquisition (Next Gen) programs, administered locally by the Land Preservation Office within the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning, have been instrumental in local land preservation efforts for the past six years. These state-funded programs are specifically designed to aid new farmers who are looking to acquire agricultural land and have not previously owned more than 20 contiguous acres. To be eligible, applicants typically need to have a property under contract or be in the process of making an offer at the time of application. MARBIDCO can provide up to 51 percent of the land’s fair market value as down payment assistance upon settlement, making farm ownership more accessible for emerging agricultural producers. Applications for these programs are accepted continuously.

This latest preservation effort is part of Washington County’s comprehensive strategy to safeguard agricultural, historic, scenic, and environmentally significant lands. Beyond the SANG and Next Gen programs, the county actively participates in and supports a range of other preservation initiatives. These include the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPF) administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, various programs from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) such as the Rural Legacy Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), and Program Open Space Stateside, as well as the county’s own Installment Purchase Program (IPP) and local forest conservation easements. Federal programs like the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) and Federal Scenic Easements, along with partnerships with organizations like the Maryland Environmental Trust, Antietam Battlefield Trust, and Mid-Maryland Land Trust, further bolster these conservation goals.

While state programs have historically been the primary source of funding for land preservation, Washington County has increasingly allocated its own local funding to support long-term land conservation objectives in recent years. For those seeking more information about Washington County’s land preservation programs, Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, can be contacted at 240-313-2447 or via email at cboggs@washco-md.net.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Washington County Government

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