Lehigh Valley, Central Pa. farms among those protected by $9.9M investment

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Pennsylvania is investing more than $9.9 million to purchase development rights for 2,654 acres on 30 farms in 14 counties across the Lehigh Valley and Central Pennsylvania, the Shapiro Administration announced. 

Farmland acres are being preserved from future residential or commercial development in Adams, Armstrong, Berks, Cumberland, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Lycoming, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Susquehanna, Washington, and York counties. The easement purchases ensure that Pennsylvania farmers will have the land they need to continue supporting families, communities, and jobs in the future. 

“Pennsylvania is a great place to do business,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in a statement. “Our location near ports, interstates, railways, and 40 percent of the U.S. population means farmers face fierce competition from developers seeking to buy their land. Saving fertile farmland for producing food, rather than losing it to warehouses and suburban sprawl is a critical investment the Shapiro Administration is making along with farm families and county and local governments to feed our families, and our economy, and our future together.” 

Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserved farmland. Since 1988, Pennsylvania has protected 6,422 farms and 641,908 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.7 billion in state, county, and local funds. The state partners with county, local government, and nonprofits to purchase development rights, ensuring a future for farming and food security. Selling development rights ensures farm owners that their land will remain productive and never be sold to developers. 

Central Pennsylvania and Lehigh Valley farms preserved this month, by county, are as follows: 

• Adams County – Total investment – $403,419; state – $329,881; county – $19,612; Union Township – $53,925 

Arentz Family #3, 72-acre crop farm, Union Township 

Clay D. and Judith A. Roche, 15-acre crop farm, Hamilton Township 

John E. Sanders 28-acre crop farm, Mount Pleasant Township  

• Berks County – Total investment – $699,312; state – $568,285; county – $131,027 

Geiger Family, 84-acre crop farm, Ontelaunee Township 

Debra A. Gingrich, Sarah Gingrich, and Christy M. Yohn, 117-acre crop farm, Bethel Township 

Christopher and Lisa C. Teprovich 46-acre crop farm, Centre Township 

• Cumberland County – Total investment – $1,462,961, state – $812,961, county – $650,000 

Gertrude M. and Brian E. Hair, 75-acre crop and livestock farm, South Newton Township 

David C., Rachel J., and Rebecca K. Hershberger,122-acre crop and livestock farm, Hopewell Township 

Paul E. & Harry G. Hoch #4, 79-acre crop farm, Southampton Township 

Loren B. & Brenda N. Newswanger, 143-acre crop and livestock farm, Dickinson Township  

• Lancaster County – Total investment – $2,589,500, state — $2,050,051, county — $539,449. 

Pattye Y. Barley, 60-acre crop farm, Manor Township. 

Glenn C. and Helen M. Hershey, 83-acre crop farm, Leacock Township. 

Gregory D. and Lafaye H. Musser, 75-acre crop farm, Penn Township. 

Christian L. and L. Ruthy Petersheim, 94-acre crop farm, Salisbury Township. 

Red Knob Farm, 112-acre crop farm, Fulton Township. 

Joel H. & Irene W. Rutt, 150-acre crop and livestock farm, Rapho Township. 

Ruby S. and David R. Stoltzfus, Jr., 78-acre crop farm, Salisbury Township. 

• Lehigh County – Total investment – $403,444, state – $206,406, county – $189,330, townships – $7,708. 

Alan P. and Donna M. Behnke, 20-acre crop farm, Lower Milford Township. 

Matthew J. Urffer and Jessica J. Bales, 43-acre crop farm, Lower Milford Township. 

• Lycoming County – Total investment – $135,926; state – $127,988; county – $7,939. 

Wayne E., Ruth H., James A., and Linda Vandine, 106-acre crop farm, Moreland Township. 

• Monroe County – Total investment – $193,679 state only. 

Esther Mager Vasil, 31-acre crop farm, Eldred Township. 

• Montgomery County – Total investment – $1,713,431; state – $1,681,261; county – $32,170. 

Todd R. and Jeanette L. Baringer #1, 18-acre livestock farm, Upper Hanover Township. 

Freeds Partnership #1, 66-acre crop farm, New Hanover Township. 

• Northampton County – Total investment – $434,999, state – $196,489, county – $238,510. 

358 Menahan Street, 56-acre crop farm, Lower Mount Bethel Township. 

Charles B., Natalie J., and Zachary B. Rush, 48-acre crop farm, Moore Township. 

• Susquehanna County – Total investment – $417,944; state – $285,658; county – $132,286. 

Philip S. and Michele K. DePue, 264-acre crop and livestock farm, Franklin Township. 

• York County – Total investment – $579,194; state – $6,900; county – $572,294. 

Z&Z Farms #1, 225-acre crop and livestock farm, Dover Township.