Five more Lehigh Valley farms are preserved under state program

Five Lehigh Valley farms, totaling 142 acres, will be preserved under a state investment program that protects them from future residential or commercial development.

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office announced Friday that more than 2,565 acres on 34 farms in 16 counties were part of a $9.1 million investment in state, county and local funds.

“Protecting farmland is critical to preserving the quality of life that makes the Lehigh Valley such a special place to live,” said state Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh. “As our communities continue to grow, we need to be intentional about protecting open space and productive farmland. This investment will permanently preserve these two Northampton County farms, support our agricultural economy and ensure this land remains available for farming for generations to come.”

“Protecting farmland is an investment in the future of our communities and our commonwealth,” said state Rep. Milou Mackenzie, R-Lehigh.

Two Lehigh County farms received an investment of $474,518, with $342,458 coming from the state, $127,800 from the county and $4,260 from Weisenberg Township. They are:

• Jeffrey Broadhurst’s 21-acre crop farm in Weisenberg Township.

• County of Lehigh No. 2, a 53-acre crop farm in Upper Milford Township.

Three Northampton County farms received an investment of $634,303, with $402,967 from the state, $10,000 from the county and $221,336 from Plainfield Township. They are:

• Anna L. Eckensberger and Gay L. Perkins’ 15-acre crop farm in Allen Township.

• Huratiak Homes LLC, a 35-acre crop farm in Plainfield Township.

• Jendy Sell’s 18-acre beef farm in Lehigh Township.

According to its website, Lehigh County has 422 preserved farms covering more than 28,000 acres. Last month, the county approved 11 additional farms totaling nearly 786 acres to be saved from development in 2027.

Northampton County has a similar program that has preserved 270 farms covering more than 20,000 acres since 1989.

The state partners with county and sometimes local governments and nonprofits to buy development rights. By selling development rights, property owners ensure that their properties will remain productive farms and never be sold to developers.

Since 1988, Pennsylvania has protected 6,759 farms and 669,854 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.82 billion in state, county and local funds.

Outside of the Lehigh Valley, farmland was also preserved in Adams, Beaver, Bucks, Centre, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lycoming, Schuylkill, Tioga and York counties.