Pennsylvania is investing nearly $6.7 million to protect 19 farms in 16 counties from future development, including one in Bedminster Township a few miles north of Doylestown.
The Keystone State has allocated $6,699,378 to secure development rights for 1,837 acres statewide. The initiative in which the state partners with county and local governments and sometimes nonprofits ensures that Pennsylvania farmers retain access to prime-quality land. This helps them in continuing supporting families, communities, and jobs.
“Food security is national security,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Farmers face fierce competition from developers seeking to buy their land, and saving that land to produce food is one of the most important things we can do to ensure that we can keep feeding Pennsylvania and the world.”
He added that the “Shapiro Administration is committed to investing, along with these farm families, to protect our valuable land to feed our families and economy in the future.”
By selling the development rights, farm owners can guarantee that their land will remain protected from future development.
Kelsey L. Beers’ 17-acre equine farm in Bedminster Township received a total investment of $234,500, with $209,027 from the state, $16,613 from the county, and $8,860 from Bedminster Township.
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