Pennsylvania Farmland Protected by Preservation Board

Board Approves 58 Additional Farms, More Than 6,400 Acres

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Farmland in 20
Pennsylvania counties will remain viable for agricultural production thanks to
today's approval of more than 6,400 acres on 58 farms by the state Farmland
Preservation Board, said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff.

"Production agriculture is Pennsylvania's key source of food and fiber, and by
protecting precious farmland, we can continue to provide for all citizens now
and in the future," said Wolff. "As our number one industry, it is critical
that we take every measure possible to keep farmland available to keep the
industry growing."

A joint state, county and township investment of nearly $22.78 million will
secure 58 additional farms and 6,422 acres in 20 counties.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Bill Wehry welcomed Jo Ellen Litz, a Lebanon
County commissioner who joined the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board in
April. Litz served on the Lebanon County Farmland Preservation Board from
1990-1996 and was a member of the county's Conservation District Board for 13
years. She succeeds Warren Elliot on the board.

In total, Pennsylvania has preserved 3,579 farms and 395,636 acres, making it
the national leader in farmland preservation. Later this summer, the state
will celebrate its 400,000 acre preservation milestone.

The latest preserved farms are in the following counties: Bedford, Berks,
Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon,
Lehigh, Mifflin, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Susquehanna, Union,
Washington, and York.

The state's farmland preservation program works through the Pennsylvania
Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program, which was developed 20
years ago to help slow the loss of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses.
The program enables state, county and local governments to purchase
conservation easements, also called development rights, from owners of quality
farmland.

"As we celebrate the program's 20th anniversary, we can reflect on the
positive work that has been done to protect farmland, and we can look forward
to continuing Pennsylvania's rich farming tradition," said Wolff.

For more information about Pennsylvania's nationally recognized farmland
preservation program, visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us, and click on
"Producers."

CONTACT: Chris L. Ryder
(717) 787-5085

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Chris L. Ryder of the PA Department of Agriculture, +1-717-787-5085