According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, on Dec. 12 the state safeguarded 2,710 acres on 32 farms in 17 counties through the commonwealth’s Farmland Preservation Program.

In 2020, the state board, in collaboration with county boards, preserved 177 farms and 14,727 acres of farmland across the commonwealth.

The director and staff of the Bureau of Farmland Preservation were recently recognized by the Wolf Administration for continuing their work while overcoming telework obstacles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The disruptive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pennsylvania’s agricultural system have been broad and varied,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “This year, we’ve watched farmers and consumers bridge the gap from farm-to-table. Producers and households have depended on each other for certainty and our state’s Farmland Preservation Program has made food security possible for our families and farmers across the commonwealth.”

Preserved farms are protected from future residential, commercial or industrial development.

They represent targeted investments in the future of farming and food security in Pennsylvania.

The 32 farms preserved are in Adams, Berks, Bucks, Butler, Clinton, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lehigh, Lycoming, Monroe, Northampton, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, and York counties.

These farms include fruit, vegetable, equine, crop, livestock, sheep, goat, and dairy operations.

Farms preserved in Berks and Lehigh counties are:

·Berks County - total investment of $596,551.13 state, $266,250 county.

The Glenden and Hallie Martin Farm, a 119-acre crop and livestock operation;

RS Enterprises Holdings Corp., a PA Corporation, a 44-acre crop and livestock operation; and

The Charlotte E. Sunday Farm, a 163-acre crop and livestock operation.

·Lehigh County - total investment of $225,589 state only.

The Jared and Andrea Hermany Farm, a 31-acre crop operation; and

The Richard W. Hermany Farm, a 17-acre crop operation.

To learn more about Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program and investments in a secure future for Pennsylvania agriculture, visit agriculture.pa.gov.