44 new farms are now part of the Delaware Farmland Preservation Program.
Delaware’s Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation approved the latest round of farmland preservation, it’s 18th since the program began in 1991. It adds about 4,300 acres to the over 115,000 acres of farmland permanently protected in Delaware.
“For more than two decades, Delaware has been a leader in preserving farmland, protecting open space and keeping agriculture profitable,” said Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee in a statement. “The investments we make today will pay off for our children and grandchildren, and help keep our rich agricultural heritage thriving.”
The Foundation permanently protects the land by purchasing the landowner’s development rights and places a permanent agricultural conservation easement on the property through local, state, and federal contributions.
Adding these 44 farms to the program cost just under $8.5 million. It preserves 26 farms in Sussex County, 17 in Kent County and one in New Castle County. Kent County Levy Court helped pick up the tab for six properties in Kent County, chipping in nearly 96 thousand dollars.
The Preservation Program is among the items targeted for a funding cut in Gov. Jack Markell’s proposed 2015 budget. Under Markell’s spending plan the Farmland Preservation program would lose nearly 8 million dollars out of its usual 10 million dollar allocation.
