(WHTM)– Pennsylvania invested more than $8 million into protecting 1,775 acres of farmland, including some in the Midstate.

The Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that the state is investing nearly $8.8 million to purchase development rights for 1,775 acres across 22 farms in 16 counties. The move will protect the land from future residential or commercial development.

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The department said the move was made possible through Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program, where the state partners with local governments and nonprofits to purchase and preserve farmland across the Commonwealth.

One of the farms included in the latest investment is the Ickes family’s farm in Penn Township. According to the Shapiro Administration, the farm received a $1,228,970 investment from the state and county for the 134-acre beef farm and 173-acre dairy farm.

Multiple Franklin County farms also received investments. The Shapiro Administration announced that J. Andrew and Sandra Lee Gingrich’s 118-acre crop farm in Peters Township, Steven and Lynn Hykes’ 141-acre crop and livestock farm in Antrim Township, and Paul and Pamela Witter’s 79-acre crop farm in Southampton Township received a total investment of $830,798.

Additionally, Mark and Sarah Hill received a $140,602 investment for their 94-acre crop farm in Granville Township.

These are just a few of the 22 farms included on the list.

“The farm families we are investing in today have remained resilient and committed to the noble work of growing the food that helps feed their neighbors — and we are proud to help ensure that their family legacies are imbedded into our agriculture heritage for generations to come,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “The Shapiro Administration is grateful for their dedication to Pennsylvania’s agriculture, and we will continue to honor them by doubling down on our leadership in farmland preservation and investing in innovation and infrastructure that will help grow our agriculture industry.”

Pennsylvania has protected 6,726 farms and 667,360 acres in 58 counties, investing more than $1.84 billion in state, county, and local funds, according to the administration. The state leads the nation in the number of preserved farms.

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