The Shapiro Administration announced today that Pennsylvania is investing $6,699,378 to purchase development rights for 1,837 acres on 19 farms in 16 counties, protecting them from future residential or commercial development. These joint investments by state and local government ensure that Pennsylvania farmers will have the prime-quality land they need to continue supporting families, communities, and jobs.
“Food security is national security,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Farmers face fierce competition from developers seeking to buy their land, and saving that land to produce food is one of the most important things we can do to ensure that we can keep feeding Pennsylvania and the world. The Shapiro Administration is committed to investing, along with these farm families, to protect our valuable land to feed our families and economy in the future.”
Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget recognizes that agriculture isn’t just part of our rich heritage in Pennsylvania it’s key to our future. With 50,000 farms across Pennsylvania that contribute $132 billion to our economy and support almost 600,000 jobs, it doesn’t make sense economically to ignore that.
To continue Pennsylvania’s national legacy as an agriculture leader, the 2025-26 budget proposes:
- An additional $13 million in the Ag Innovation Fund to help build the future of American agriculture right here in Pennsylvania. In its first open application period, the Ag Innovation Fund received 159 applications for nearly $70 million worth of innovation projects.
- Investing $2 million to keep Pennsylvania’s new animal testing laboratory in the western part of the state operational, providing critical testing services for farmers to ensure their livestock remain healthy and viable for continued farming operations.
- An additional $4 million to help connect Pennsylvanians at risk of hunger with healthy, local food through the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System.
- A $4 million increase to the State Food Purchase Program to provide state funds for emergency food assistance for low-income Pennsylvanians.
These easement purchases multiply the impact of Pennsylvania dollars invested in conservation initiatives, like the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP), Clean & Green tax incentives, Resource Enhancement and Protection tax credits, as well as historic levels of state support for Pennsylvania farmers who are conserving priceless resources and working for cleaner water and healthier soil.
In 2023 and 2024, Pennsylvania preserved 333 new farms and 27,510 prime acres of farmland across the state, investing more than $96.9 million. Pennsylvania continues to lead the nation in preserved farmland. Since 1988, when voters overwhelmingly supported creating the state’s Farmland Preservation Program, Pennsylvania has protected 6,500 farms and 648,692 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.7 billion in state, county, and local funds.
The state partners with county, and sometimes local government and nonprofits to purchase development rights, ensuring a strong future for farming and food security. By selling development rights, farm owners ensure that their farms will remain productive farms and never be sold to developers.
Farms preserved are listed below by county, along with a breakdown of the total $6,699,378 invested:
Adams County – Total investment – $1,158,689; state - $319,460; county - $839,229
Hanover Shoe Farms #21, 274-acre equine farm, Conewago Township
Shirley J. Mummert, 104-acre crop farm, Reading Township
Berks County – Total investment – $198,671; state - $189,559; county - $9,072
Howard J. and Jill Stark, 70-acre crop farm, Perry Township
Bucks County – Total investment – $234,500; state – 209,027; county - $16,613; Bedminster Township - $8,860
Kelsey L. Beers, 17-acre equine farm, Bedminster Township
Carbon County – Total investment – $1,082,662; state - $699,302; county - $383,360
William and Carol Eckert, 78-acre crop farm, Towamensing Township
Luke Miller Graver and Danadee M. Miller-Boyle and Diane L. Miller-Graver and Deanna L. Wentz, and Sara J. Keiser, 129-acre crop and livestock farm, Franklin Township
Centre County – Total investment – $355,032; state - $293,939; county - $50,000; Ferguson Township - $11,093
Karen D. Dreibelbis, 110-acre crop and livestock farm, Ferguson Township
Columbia County – Total investment – $85,554; state-only
Joyce Ranie LeVan, 66-acre crop and livestock farm, Locust Township
Franklin County – Total investment – $70,352; state - $4,177; county - $66,175
Paul E. Witter #3, 26-acre crop farm, Southampton Township
Lancaster County – Total investment – $115,397; state - $4,477; county - $110,920
John M. Heisey, 47-acre crop farm, Mount Joy Township
Luzerne County – Total investment – $281,285; state-only
Kurt A. and Holly M. Michael, 90-acre dairy farm, Huntington Township
Lycoming County – Total investment – $188,234; state - $97,728; county - $90,506
5033 Daughertys Run Rd LLC, 145-acre dairy farm, Anthony Township
Northampton County – Total investment – $1,731,964; state only
Susan J. and Charles F. Forney, 140-acre crop farm, Bushkill Township
Perry County – Total investment – $285,662; state only
Carmen L. and Shawn A. Good, 72-acre crop farm, Greenwood Township
Jason J. & Rhonda Jill Witmer Saylor #2, 123-acre crop farm, Liverpool Township
Schuylkill County – Total investment – $41,811.62; state - $5,031; county - $36,780
Frank Kreywiski Estate, 18-acre crop farm, Eldred Township
Tioga County – Total investment – $144,974; state - $101,524; county - $43,450
James L. Powlison, 105-acre crop and livestock farm, Jackson Township
Union County – Total investment – $380,572; state only
Steven W. and Ruth L. Hoover #3, 118-acre crop farm, Lewis Township
York County – Total investment - $344,017; state - $6,547; county - $337,470
Maple Spring Farms Partnership #4, 96-acre crop farm, Shrewsbury Township
Source : pa.gov