Pennsylvania Preserves 21 Farms, 2 In Chester County Totaling 98 Local Acres

CHESTER COUNTY, PA —

Pennsylvania recently protected 1,999 acres on 21 farms in 13 counties today through the state's Farmland Preservation Program. Since 1988, the program has purchased permanent conservation easements on 5,949 Pennsylvania farms, covering 603,646 acres, in 58 counties, ensuring they will remain farms in the future.

In Chester County today, the program invested a total of $18,861.94 in state funds, and $497,728.17 in county contributions. The purchases made in Chesco were the Mark A. & Claudia V. Cole farm, a 42-acre crop and livestock operation, and the Leila & Sander Lehrer farm, a 56-acre crop operation.

"Farmland preservation provides a secure pathway for future generations to succeed," said Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding. "It ensures future agriculturalists have land to farm, and in return, consumers will have food on the table. Once farmland goes out of production, it rarely comes back, which is why farmland preservation is so important."

The 21 farms preserved today are in Chester, Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Cumberland, Erie, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton, Tioga, Union, and York counties. These farms include produce, crop, and livestock operations.

Other purchases announced today are:

The Donald G. and Jane E. Dillner farm, a fourth-generation 79.35-acre fruit, vegetable and livestock operation located in West Deer Township, Allegheny County. Dillner Family Farms operates a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program and farm market, providing fresh produce, eggs and meats to the Greater Pittsburgh area year-round.

The Samuel Valone farm, a 45.39-acre vineyard located in North East Township, Erie County. The farm is in Erie County’s grape and wine region next to two preserved vineyards, adding to a total of 3,246 acres of protected farmland in North East township.

The AgKam LLC farm, a 160.12-acre beef operation located in Charleston Township, Tioga County. The farm is located outside of Wellsboro near the gateway to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and Scenic Route 6. Farmland in this scenic area is at risk of conversion to vacation homes and secondary residences.

Farms preserved and dollars invested, by county are:
Allegheny County; total investment — $661,270.00, state investment only
The Donald G. & Jane E. Dillner farm, a 79-acre crop and livestock operation
Beaver County; total investment — $171,252.10state; $52,400 county
The Raymond Abels farm #1, a 52-acre crop operation
Berks County; total investment — $350,950.09 state; $132,150 county
The Andrew F. Dech farm, a 73-acre crop farm
The Aaron H. & Edna W. Hoover farm, a 103-acre crop and livestock operation
Bucks County; total investment — $2,364,089.30 state; $397,535.70 county
Millett Holdings II, LLC farm, a 244-acre crop operation
Chester County; total investment — $18,861.94 state, $497,728.17 county
The Mark A. & Claudia V. Cole farm, a 42-acre crop and livestock operation
The Leila & Sander Lehrer farm, a 56-acre crop operation
Cumberland County; total investment — $149,549.00 state, $50,000 county
The Steven W. & Thomas H. Nealy farm, a 53-acre crop operation
Erie County; total investment — $95,966.34 state only
The Samuel J. Valone Farm #1, a 45-acre crop operation
Lebanon County; total investment — $233,328.95 state, $67,223.50
The David P. & Almira D. Kline farm, a 118-acre crop and livestock operation
Lehigh County; total investment — $955,501.71 state; $3,433.70 county
The Lewis A. Moore farm, a 24-acre crop operation
The Earl O. & Kelly A. Zellner farm, a 152-acre crop operation
Northampton County; total investment — $435,551.20 state; $151,309.60 county
The James D. & Barbara J. Hulett farm, a 29- acre crop operation
The Charles J. Hilliard & Alice V. Simmons farm, a 121-acre crop operation
Tioga County; total investment — $182,980.00 state; $12,964.00 county
The AgKam LLC farm, a 60-acre crop and livestock operation
Union County; total investment — $21,225.08 state; $202,450.33 county
The Eleanor J. Miller farm, an 84-acre crop and livestock operation
The Amos M. & Elizabeth M. Oberholtzer #1 farm, a 148-acre crop and livestock operation
The Amos M. & Elizabeth M. Oberholtzer #2 farm, a 94-acre crop operation
York County; total investment — $311,875.96 state; $662,892.00 county
The Stephen H. & Lynn M. Brown farm, a 221-acre beef operation
The Lydia A. Keller farm, a 47-acre crop and livestock operation
The John L. & Doris E. Rexroth farm, a 51-acre crop and livestock operation

To learn more about Pennsylvania's Farmland Preservation Program, and investments in a secure future for Pennsylvania agriculture, gohere.

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