Pennsylvania is investing more than $6.9 million to purchase development rights for 2,354 acres on 27 farms across 13 counties, including one Northampton County farm, protecting them from future residential or commercial development.
Last week’s announcement from the Shapiro Administration comes as the state preserved 167 farms and 14,147 prime acres of farmland in 2025, investing more than $50.1 million.
“High-quality farmland is one of Pennsylvania’s most valuable economic assets,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said.
Through Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program, the state partners with local governments and nonprofits to purchase development rights, ensuring farms remain in agricultural production and are never sold to developers.
Agriculture contributes $132.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy through nearly 49,000 farms that support almost 600,000 jobs. The industry is one of five key sectors prioritized in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy, the first of its kind in more than two decades.
The state’s investments extend beyond land preservation. More than 2,700 Pennsylvania farmers have received financial and technical support through the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program to improve management practices and enhance water and soil health across the region.
Farms preserved at the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board Meeting include a 31-acre crop farm in Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, owned by Kevin Brent, Denise M. and Brayden W. McEwen. The total investment was $230,944, with $17,131 from the state and $213,812 from the county.