{"id":113217,"date":"2026-02-13T17:11:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T17:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/113217\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T17:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T17:11:08","slug":"pennsylvania-invests-7-1-million-to-preserve-1905-acres-on-25-farms-across-17-counties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/113217\/","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Invests $7.1 Million to Preserve 1,905 Acres on 25 Farms Across 17 Counties"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Shapiro Administration announced an investment of nearly $7.1 million to purchase development rights for 1,905 acres on 25 farms in 17 counties, protecting the land from future residential or commercial development.<\/p>\n

In 2025, Pennsylvania preserved 167 farms and 14,147 prime acres statewide, investing more than $50.1 million through joint state and local funding.<\/p>\n

Through Pennsylvania\u2019s Farmland Preservation Program, the state partners with local governments and nonprofits to purchase development rights that ensure farms remain in agricultural production and are not sold to developers.<\/p>\n

Since 1988, Pennsylvania has protected 6,673 farms and 662,940 acres in 58 counties, investing more than $1.84 billion in state, county, and local funds. Nearly 49,000 farms contribute $132.5 billion to Pennsylvania\u2019s economy and support almost 600,000 jobs.<\/p>\n

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More than 2,900 farmers have sought financial and technical support through the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP). To date, 165 ACAP-funded projects totaling $25 million are located on preserved farms.<\/p>\n

Two farms preserved in this round also participated in the federal Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and the Kittatinny Ridge Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which reimburse easement funds to the state for reinvestment in additional farms. The Dunn family enrolled a 76-acre crop farm in West Penn Township, Schuylkill County, through ACEP. In Lebanon County, the Musser family\u2019s 70-acre farm in North Annville Township was added to the preserved farms along the Kittatinny Ridge, bringing the total there to 16 farms and more than 1,400 acres. The area was designated a Sentinel Landscape in 2024.<\/p>\n

Farms preserved at the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board meeting are listed below by county, along with the total $7,084,937 invested:<\/p>\n

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Adams County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $321,089; state-only
Daniel R. Trimmer, 105-acre crop farm, Hamilton Township<\/p>\n

Beaver County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $234,140; state-only
William McNary, Jr. and Deborah K. McNary, 62-acre crop and livestock farm, Hanover Township<\/p>\n

Berks County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $133,820; state \u2013 $24,399; county \u2013 $109,421
Lou W. Gougler, 44-acre crop and livestock farm, Tilden Township<\/p>\n

Butler County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $188,829; state \u2013 $186,729; county \u2013 $2,100
Frank C. Ruckdeschel Jr. and Margaret A. Ruckdeschel, Trustees of the Ruckdeschel Family Real Estate Trust, 43-acre crop and livestock farm, Buffalo Township<\/p>\n

Carbon County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $206,544; state \u2013 $156,933; county \u2013 $49,611
John Michael and Diane M. Strockoz, 27-acre crop farm, East Penn Township<\/p>\n

Centre County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $166,685; state \u2013 $141,685; county \u2013 $25,000
Leo E. and Bernard L. Corl #2, 42-acre crop farm, Benner Township<\/p>\n

Crawford County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $16,058; state \u2013 $16,057; county \u2013 $1
Stephen L. Mandl, 125-acre dairy farm, West Shenango Township<\/p>\n

Cumberland County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $640,084; state \u2013 $446,832; county \u2013 $193,252
Reza G. Azizkhan, 49-acre crop farm, Monroe Township
S. Richard Brenneman, 113-acre crop farm, South Middleton Township<\/p>\n

Dauphin County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $362,978; state-only
Norman S. Beiler Jr. and Malinda K. Beiler, 78-acre crop farm, Upper Paxton Township
Daniel P. Bolton #1, 97-acre crop farm, Upper Paxton Township<\/p>\n

Lancaster County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $439,760; state \u2013 $202,080; county \u2013 $187,680; Penn Township \u2013 $50,000
Michael L. and Kelly D. Cassel #2, 59-acre crop farm, Penn Township
Donegal Farms, 46-acre crop farm, East Donegal Township<\/p>\n

Lebanon County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $846,661; state \u2013 $593,470; county \u2013 $253,191
Kirby L. and Sheryl A. Horst, 111-acre poultry farm, Millcreek Township
John P. and Ricki L. Light, 151-acre poultry farm, Swatara Township
Steve L. and Kendra J. Musser, 70-acre crop farm, North Annville Township<\/p>\n

Lehigh County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $1,655,712; state \u2013 $1,401,942; county \u2013 $14,994; Weisenberg Township \u2013 $16,370; North Whitehall Township \u2013 $189,658; Heidelberg Township \u2013 $32,748
Joseph F. Sivel Jr. and Karen E. Sivel, 81-acre miscellaneous crop farm, Weisenberg Township
Kenneth P. and Heather J. Skorinko #1, 83-acre crop and livestock farm, North Whitehall Township
Earl O. Zellner Jr. and Kelly A. Zellner #2, 62-acre crop and livestock farm, Heidelberg and Washington Townships<\/p>\n

Luzerne County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $291,907; state-only
David M. Potkey, 79-acre crop farm, Sugarloaf Township<\/p>\n

Northampton County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $843,740; state \u2013 $633,050; county \u2013 $210,690
Connie A. Muschko and Kay L. Adams, 77-acre crop farm, Lehigh Township
Connie A. Muschko and Kay L. Adams #2, 23-acre crop farm, Lehigh Township<\/p>\n

Schuylkill County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $163,580; state \u2013 $98,580; county \u2013 $65,000
James D. and Tammie L. Dunn #1, 76-acre crop farm, West Penn Township<\/p>\n

Somerset County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $187,104; state \u2013 $181,635; county \u2013 $5,469
Tim E., Thomas E., and Suzanne K. Bell, 125-acre crop and livestock farm, Somerset Township<\/p>\n

Westmoreland County \u2013 Total investment \u2013 $386,240; state-only
Sam J. and Mary Faith Stoner, 64-acre crop and livestock farm, Unity Township<\/p>\n

More information about Pennsylvania\u2019s Farmland Preservation Program is available at agriculture.pa.gov.<\/p>\n

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