On April 16, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Reading announced that the state's Agricultural Land Preservation Board safeguarded 2,793 more acres on 27 farms during its recent meeting. "The farms preserved today exemplify our diverse production agriculture industry – each is unique in the products it grows and the people who call it home,” said read more
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April
13
April
PALTA: Condemnation of McCormick Farm is Ethically and Legally Suspect
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association issued the following letter to the Cumberland Valley School Board on April 12 regarding its condemnation of McCormick Farm, upon which Natural Lands holds a conservation easement. Re: Condemnation of McCormick Farm Is Ethically and Legally Suspect Dear Directors: These comments regarding the Cumberland Valley’s condemnation of read more
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January
Land Conservancy of Adams County Protects 500 Acres
The end of 2017 was busy for the Land Conservancy of Adams County--the organization preserved over 500 acres in the month of December, bringing its yearly total to 744 acres. The first December easement was on the Strayer and Nikki Yake farm in Hamilton Township near New Oxford, a 28-acre property with a charming farmstead tucked away from the road. The farm has a 19th-century read more
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November
Willistown Conservation Trust Protects 30 More Acres
Willistown Conservation Trust permanently protected the final 30 acres of the beautiful 55-acre Hi Bid Farm from development on November 6, when conservation buyer Caroline Moran signed a conservation easement at the Trust's office. The land will remain privately owned by Ms. Moran, and the easement limits the number of primary residences permitted on the land to just two, read more
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October
Lancaster Farmland Trust Raises $165,000 and Saves Three Farms
Lancaster Farmland Trust raised $165,000 for farmland preservation at its 2017 Annual Dinner and Silent Auction on Tuesday evening. Over 220 attendees joined in the annual celebration. The "Acres for Auction" event featured three farms in Brecknock Township. The live auction raised over $110,000 to help preserve the three farms. Together they make up 105 acres of rich, read more
10
October
Lancaster Farmland Trust Preserves Four Farms
Lancaster Farmland Trust recently completed four preservation projects totaling 131 acres. The first farm, a 31-acre farm in Conestoga Township, was a joint preservation project with the Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board (APB) and is owned by a family that preserved another farm with the Trust and APB a few years ago. The Trust continues to focus on preserving read more
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September
ClearWater Conservancy Meets Slab Cabin Run Goal
With the engaged and passionate support of the community, ClearWater Conservancy (CWC) has raised 100% of its $2.75 million fundraising goal for the Slab Cabin Run Initiative. The fundraising effort began in October 2016 and now has been achieved due to generous contributions from a variety of public and private donors — individuals, municipalities, school children, local read more
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September
WPC Launches Farmland Access Initiative
The demand for locally grown food is rapidly increasing in the Pittsburgh region. Rising costs of land make it difficult for farmers (particularly new farmers) to find farmland close to urban markets. To address these needs, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Farmland Access Initiative will acquire land to lease to local farmers. During the next three years, the read more
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July
Lancaster Farmland Trust Preserves Its Largest Property Ever
Lancaster Farmland Trust recently completed the preservation of a 217-acre Drumore Township farm, the largest single preservation project ever completed by the organization. Following preservation of the farm, the family conveyed ownership to the tenant farmer of over 30 years. The farm is home to over 240 cows and also has a hog operation. Support crops grown include corn, read more
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June
Heritage Conservancy Preserves Alpaca Farm
Thanks to a collaborative effort between Heritage Conservancy and Springfield Township, the Oraschin Farm (also known as Harley Hill Farm) has been preserved in perpetuity under a conservation easement. The property is a beautiful 17-acre alpaca farm located in Springfield Township. Heritage Conservancy will cohold the easement with Springfield Township, and the Conservancy read more
12
June
Conservation Success Within Reach for Bryn Coed Farms
“It’s the chance of a lifetime,” said Natural Lands President Molly Morrison, describing her organization’s effort to preserve 1,505 acres in northern Chester County known as Bryn Coed Farms. On June 1st, that chance took two important steps toward becoming a reality. Natural Lands launched the Campaign for Bryn Coed Farms earlier this year with the goal of raising $5 read more
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February
Land Conservancy of Adams County Preserves 19.5 Acres
In December the Land Conservancy of Adams County finalized an agreement with an Oxford Township couple to preserve their 19.5-acre property from development. “I’ve been thinking about preserving this land for the last ten years,” said landowner Tom Colgan. “We live on a small tract of land, but it’s surrounded by houses. It’s a refuge for wildlife and we both love wildlife, read more
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January
Turkey Hill Dairy Helps Lancaster Farmland Trust Save Farm
As part of an innovative community partnership, Turkey Hill Dairy recently donated $42,500 to Lancaster Farmland Trust through its Preserve a Farm program. The program matched donations up to $42,500. Donations were made by fans on Turkey Hill's website. The Trust used the funds raised to preserve a 63-acre Amish farm in East Lampeter Township. The Preserve a Farm initiative read more
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January
Land Conservancy of Adams County Preserves 77 Acres
The Land Conservancy of Adams County has finalized an agreement with Highland Township resident Allen Knouse to preserve his 77.5-acre property from development. "I'm the third generation of my family to own this land," said Knouse. "My grandparents were tenant farmers on this land for five years and then they bought the whole farm. They built the home that I live in today read more
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January
Centre County Farmland Trust Preserves Rossman Farm
On January 2, the Centre County Farmland Trust (CCFT) announced the donation of a conservation easement from the Rossman family on their 84-acre property in Potter Township. The family has wanted to protect their farm for many years, and the completion of this easement will ensure that the land will continue to be used as a working farm. The property sits along the north side read more
