820-Lanca«ter Farming, Saturday, March 25, 2000 Ridge Administration Announces 32 Farms Preserved HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)-Lt. Gov. Mark Schweiker recently announced the approval of 32 farms-more than 4,500 acres-for preservation. The approval puts Pennsylvania one-third of the way toward Gov. Tom Ridge’s pledge to preserve 100 farms during the “100 Days of Growing Greener.” This is a record number of approvals for one State Agricultural Land Preservation Board meeting and represents nearly $6 million in state funds to protect farmland from non-agricultural development. “Today, we mark TOO Days of Growing Greener’ by using nearly $6 million to help protect 32 farms and more than 4,500 acres of quality farmland,” Schweiker said. “We now are one-third of the way toward our goal of preserving 100 farms by Earth Day. Through ‘Growing Greener,’ we’ll invest $2O million this year and $lOO million over five years to preserve prime agricultural land for our hardworking farm families, and the quality of life and beautiful vistas we all enjoy.” On January 8 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, Gov. Ridge announced his goal of preserving 100 farms over the next 100 days, culminating on Earth Day. He called the loss of open space and farmland Penn sylvania’s biggest environmental challenge in the new century. “Not all of our work will be done in these 100 days,” Gov. Ridge said at the Farm Show. ‘“Growing Greener’ is a five year program, and we plan to use every day of those five years to leave our children ‘Penn’s Woods’ that are even cleaner and greener than we found them.” The state board today also allocated a record $45 million-including the $2O mil lion in “Growing Greener” funds-to 50 el igible counties for farmland preservation. Forty-two counties also appropriated a record $24 million in matching funds -bringing the total available dollars for farmland preservation this year to nearly $7O million. In addition, the state board approved the first three applications under the Land Trust Reimbursement Grant Pilot Pro gram, created by Gov. Ridge last year as part of the Supplemental Farmland Pres ervation allocation. The pilot program will reimburse eligible land trusts for up to $5,000 per easement to cover costs such as surveying, title searches, and appraisals. The first three approvals were easements acquired by the Farm and National Lands Trust of York County. Created in 1989, the Pennsylvania Agri cultural Land Preservation Board oversees the state Farmland Preservation Program. The program allows the state and counties to purchase development rights, referred to as easements, to guarantee that farms will remain as agricultural land. Agriculture Secretary Samuel E. Hayes, Jr. said he will work with the State Agri cultural Land Preservation Board, county farmland-preservation boards, and the state’s farm community to reach Gov. Ridge’s goal of 100 farms. “We are determined to meet the Gover nor’s goal of preserving 100 farms in 100 days,” said Secretary Hayes, chairman of the State Agricultural Land Preservation Board. “The board shares the Governor’s enthusiasm and commitment toward pre serving our proud agricultural heritage and the life our farm families enjoy.” Including the seven county-owned ease ments accepted today, the Farmland Pres ervation Program has protected 1,225 farms in 42 counties, encompassing 152,205 acres. Following is a list of 25 properties ap proved for easement purchase using state funds, including owner, municipality, acreage, and purchase cost: Adams County •George R. Bittle, Germany Township, 197 acres, $338,262. Berks County •William and Karen Boyd, Longswamp Township, 139 acres, $277,000. •Daniel Delong Estate, Maxatawny Township, 249 acres, $498,000. •Paul P. Lechner, Oley and Earl Town ships, 183 acres, $329,040. •Carter and Sarah Reese Farm, Oley Township, 83 acres, $165,600. •William L. and Gabriele B. Sweidel, Amity and Exeter Townships, 72 acres, $143,400. Butler County •Eugene and Debra Cooper, Worth Township, 91 acres, $165,564. Erie County •Robert H. Whitney, Harborcreek Township, 121 acres, $229,711. Franklin County •Marvin C., Martha L., Stanley C. and Micah M. Meyers (Meyersland Dairy), Peters Township, 177 acres, $195,933. Lackawanna County •Michael J. and Barbara J. Hillebrand, Scott Township, 90 acres, $104,514. •Margaret Hull, et al, North Abington Township, 114 acres, $248,718. Lancaster County •Henry and Marsha Barley, Manor Township, 112 acres, $269,900. •Wilbur and Amelia Erb, East Donegal Township, 103 acres, $340,049. •Joseph D. Hess Sr., et al, East Donegal Township, 119 acres, $436,760. •Dorothy F. Metzler, East Donegal Township, 127 acres, $330,543. Mercer County •David N. and Carol D. Greathouse, 6 DAYS BEFORE APPLICATION - APRIL 19 Aerial imagery-derived crop vigor index comparing speed of ■■ burndoum between GRAMOXONE EXTRA and m glyphosate. Corn was planted May 7. ZENECA ©2OOO Zeneca Ag Products Inc GRAMOXONE 1 is a registered trademark of a Zeneca company Gramoxone Extra is a restricted use pesticide Farm Safely Always read and follow label directions PLANT. Mill Creek Township, 192 acres, $182,277. Montgomery County •Gerhart Family Trust, Salford Town ship, 76 acres, $151,798. Snyder County •Markley Family Trust, Spring Town ship, 132 acres, $118,766. Wyoming County •Kevin P. and Diane R. Spencer, Ni cholson Township, 190 acres, $147,250. York County •John and Ada Krone, Springfield Township, 103 acres, $156,824. •J. Bruce and Patricia Ann Marsteller, Fawn Township, 102 acres, $143,901. •William and Maude Marsteller, Fawn Township, 176 acres, $222,503. •Brian E. and Mindi E. Ness, Chance ford Township, 72 acres, $102,547. •Kenneth L. and James C. Rexroth, and Edward E. and Linda R. Smith, Lower Windsor and Windsor Township, 800 acres, $993,063. •Edward Vinarski and Kathryn G. Mueller, Husband and Wife, Warrington Township, 153 acres, $174,879. Gov. Ridge signed “Growing Greener”-his top legislative priority last fall-into law on Dec. 15, investing nearly $650 million in preserving farmland and protecting open space, eliminating the maintenance backlog in state parks, clean (Turn to Pago B 21) Bare soil Brown vegetation Yellow vegetation Green vegetation
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