Pennsylvania is investing over $10 million to purchase rights for 2,842 acres on 31 farms in 13 counties, protecting them from future residential or commercial development forever. The state has preserved 167 farms and 13,847 acres of farmland this year, with more than $50.6 million invested, according to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“Saving farmland for producing food, rather than losing it to warehouses and sprawl is an investment we can’t afford not to make,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Farmers face fierce competition from developers seeking to buy their land. The Shapiro Administration is committed to joining farm families and county and local government to protect our valuable land as an investment that will feed our families and economy in the future.”

Pennsylvania is the nation’s leading state for farmland preservation. Since 1988, it has protected 6,482 farms and 646,754 acres in 58 counties.

A total investment of $752,301 from the state was invested in a farm from West Caln. The Joseph S. and Barbara K. Allgyer farm is a 76-acre crop farm.

Selling their development rights means the Allgyer farm remains an agriculture haven and will not be built upon.

Read more about the 30 other farms that were recently preserved at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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