June 9, 2016
Harrisburg – June 9, 2016 – The Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board today approved an additional 194 acres of Berks County farmland for preservation, state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) said today.
“The farmland preservation program is so vitally important to the agriculture community of Berks County and all across the state,” Schwank said. “Preserving farmland for agricultural purposes enhances family farming, promotes efficient land use and keeps acres in production without outside development pressures.”
Schwank who is a member of the board in addition to serving as Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said that 110. 7 acres in Centre Township and another 82.7 acres in Perry Township will be preserved.
The board approved conservation easements valued at $483,500 to preserve the farmland.
“Berks County has been a statewide leader in preserving farmland,” Schwank said. “We have a long history of farming in the county and with the help of preservation activities we will continue to keep land in agricultural production.”
The farm that will be preserved in Centre Township belongs to Dale and Carolyn Machmer. The Perry Township farm is owned by Marie Strause and Carol Fetherol.
Statewide 4,977 farms totaling 522,545 acres have been preserved since the program’s inception. In Berks County, 711 farms consisting of 70,227 acres have been preserved. Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the state program.
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October 8, 2015
Harrisburg, Oct. 8, 2015 – Additional acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved following today’s approval of the purchase of conservation easements by the state Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks).
Schwank, who is a preservation board member, said that nearly 15 acres of farmland in Perry Township belonging to Marie M. Hill valued at $35,000 will be preserved from non-agricultural development.
“It is critical that farming remains viable and it can be if farmland is protected from commercial development,” Schwank said. “The work of preserving farms is on-going and the board needs to continue bringing more farmland into the program.
“Farming is an economic powerhouse and a leading industry in Pennsylvania and it can only stay vibrant if land is preserved for generations to come.”
Pennsylvania is a national leader in preserving farmland. The Pennsylvania farmland preservation program went into effect in 1988 and the first conservation easement was purchased in December 1989.
Statewide 4,860 farms totaling 514,022 acres have been preserved since the program’s inception. In Berks County, 697 farms consisting of 69,361 acres have been preserved. Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the state program.
“As someone who has worked on farming issues and with farmers for generations, I am proud that Berks County has more acreage protected than any other county in the entire state,” Schwank said. “The new 15 acre parcel in Berks that has been preserved will add even more depth to the program in the county.”
Schwank has long been involved in agriculture and farming issues. Previously, she served as horticultural agent for Penn State Cooperative Extension and established the Master Gardener Program. She was also director of the Berks County Cooperative Extension Program. Schwank is currently the Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
The Agricultural Land Preservation Board has 17 members. It is responsible for distributing funds in addition to monitoring county preservation programs.
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June 11, 2015
HARRISBURG, June 11, 2015 – Berks County’s farmland preservation movement expanded today when a state panel added another 280 acres to the commonwealth’s preservation program.
Sen. Judy Schwank, who is a member of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, said the group added the acreage with its purchase of conservation easements for three farms:
Glenn Henne/Rebecca DeBenedictis, JeffersonTownship 42.8 acres
Steven Henne, Upper Tulpehocken Township 88.7 acres
Daniel Unterkofler, Centre Township 148.1 acres
“Glenn and Rebecca, Steven, and Daniel have stepped up to make sure their land is used for farming and agriculture for decades to come and we should all feel good about that,” Schwank said. “Berks County now has 695 farms – and 69,307 acres in the state’s farmland preservation program. This is money well spent.”
Berks County has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the program.
Today’s easement for the three farms totaled $699,000.
Since the farmland preservation program started in 1988, the commonwealth has protected 4,802 farms totaling 508,478 acres with nearly $1.29 billion in easements.
Local, county or state government – or any combination of the three – may buy easements. Counties that decide to have an easement purchase program must create an agricultural land preservation board.
The long-term goal of the state’s program is to permanently preserve farmland. The holders of the easements have the right to prevent development or improvements of the land for purposes other than agricultural production.
For more information on PA’s farmland preservation program, visit the Bureau of Farmland Preservation’s website.
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April 21, 2011
Harrisburg, April 21, 2011 – State Senator Judy Schwank announced today that an additional 158 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $394,000. The funding was approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board.
“These funds are a significant lifeline to many family farms throughout Pennsylvania,” Schwank said. “By preserving this farmland, these families will be able to continue building on the success of their agriculture efforts.”
According to Senator Schwank, a Preservation Board member, the following farms will be preserved:
- Bethany Children’s Home in Heidelberg Township will have 113.5 acres of farmland preserved.
- Terry and Sue Kunkel in Albany Township will have 44.1 acres of farmland preserved.
Senator Schwank added that, in Berks County, 627 farms consisting of 63,716 acres have been preserved. Berks has preserved more acreage of farmland than any other county in the state program.
“There is a wide array of agricultural products being grown in Berks County and agribusiness is an economic and employment driver in the region,” Schwank said. “Conservation easements are investments that ensure that area farms continue to flourish.”
The Agricultural Land Preservation Board is intended to permanently preserve large clusters of viable agricultural lands by acquiring agricultural conservation easements (ACE).
An ACE prevents the development of the land for any purpose besides productive agriculture. Statewide 4,157 farms totaling 450,525 acres have been preserved since the program’s inception.
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