PA Preserves 21 Farms, Sets Aside 98 Acres In Chesco

West Chester PA

14 October, 2021

3:51 PM

Description

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Pennsylvania recently protected 1,999 acres on 21 farms in 13 counties today through the state's Farmland Preservation Program. Since 1988, the program has purchased permanent conservation easements on 5,949 Pennsylvania farms, covering 603,646 acres, in 58 counties, ensuring they will remain farms in the future. In Chester County today, the program invested a total of $18,861.94 in state funds, and $497,728.17 in county contributions. The purchases made in Chesco were the Mark A. & Claudia V. Cole farm, a 42-acre crop and livestock operation, and the Leila & Sander Lehrer farm, a 56-acre crop operation. "Farmland preservation provides a secure pathway for future generations to succeed," said Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding. "It ensures future agriculturalists have land to farm, and in return, consumers will have food on the table. Once farmland goes out of production, it rarely comes back, which is why farmland preservation is so important." The 21 farms preserved today are in Chester, Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Cumberland, Erie, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton, Tioga, Union, and York counties. These farms include produce, crop, and livestock operations. Other purchases announced today are: The Donald G. and Jane E. Dillner farm, a fourth-generation 79.35-acre fruit, vegetable and livestock operation located in West Deer Township, Allegheny County. Dillner Family Farms operates a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program and farm market, providing fresh produce, eggs and meats to the Greater Pittsburgh area year-round. The Samuel Valone farm, a 45.39-acre vineyard located in North East Township, Erie County. The farm is in Erie County's grape and wine region next to two preserved vineyards, adding to a total of 3,246 acres of protected farmland in North East township. The AgKam LLC farm, a 160.12-acre beef operation located in Charleston Township, Tioga County. The farm is located outside of Wellsboro near the gateway to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and Scenic Route 6. Farmland in this scenic area is at risk of conversion to vacation homes and secondary residences. Farms preserved and dollars invested, by county are:Allegheny County; total investment — $661,270.00, state investment onlyThe Donald G. & Jane E. Dillner farm, a 79-acre crop and livestock operationBeaver County; total investment — $171,252.10state; $52,400 countyThe Raymond Abels farm #1, a 52-acre crop operationBerks County; total investment — $350,950.09 state; $132,150 countyThe Andrew F. Dech farm, a 73-acre crop farmThe Aaron H. & Edna W. Hoover farm, a 103-acre crop and livestock operationBucks County; total investment — $2,364,089.30 state; $397,535.70 countyMillett Holdings II, LLC farm, a 244-acre crop operationChester County; total investment — $18,861.94 state, $497,728.17 countyThe Mark A. & Claudia V. Cole farm, a 42-acre crop and livestock operationThe Leila & Sander Lehrer farm, a 56-acre crop operationCumberland County; total investment — $149,549.00 state, $50,000 countyThe Steven W. & Thomas H. Nealy farm, a 53-acre crop operationErie County; total investment — $95,966.34 state onlyThe Samuel J. Valone Farm #1, a 45-acre crop operationLebanon County; total investment — $233,328.95 state, $67,223.50The David P. & Almira D. Kline farm, a 118-acre crop and livestock operationLehigh County; total investment — $955,501.71 state; $3,433.70 countyThe Lewis A. Moore farm, a 24-acre crop operationThe Earl O. & Kelly A. Zellner farm, a 152-acre crop operationNorthampton County; total investment — $435,551.20 state; $151,309.60 countyThe James D. & Barbara J. Hulett farm, a 29- acre crop operationThe Charles J. Hilliard & Alice V. Simmons farm, a 121-acre crop operationTioga County; total investment — $182,980.00 state; $12,964.00 countyThe AgKam LLC farm, a 60-acre crop and livestock operationUnion County; total investment — $21,225.08 state; $202,450.33 countyThe Eleanor J. Miller farm, an 84-acre crop and livestock operationThe Amos M. & Elizabeth M. Oberholtzer #1 farm, a 148-acre crop and livestock operationThe Amos M. & Elizabeth M. Oberholtzer #2 farm, a 94-acre crop operationYork County; total investment — $311,875.96 state; $662,892.00 countyThe Stephen H. & Lynn M. Brown farm, a 221-acre beef operationThe Lydia A. Keller farm, a 47-acre crop and livestock operationThe John L. & Doris E. Rexroth farm, a 51-acre crop and livestock operation To learn more about Pennsylvania's Farmland Preservation Program, and investments in a secure future for Pennsylvania agriculture, gohere. Make sure you know what's happening in your town. Sign up to get Patch emails and don't miss any local news: https://patch.com/subscribe.