A2B-Uncm>r Faming, Saturday, June 3, 2000
Farmland Preservation Options
In Lancaster County
In Lancaster County,
preservation efforts are strong
with the combined efforts of the
Lancaster County Agricultural
Preserve Board and the Lancaster
Farmland Trust. Together the two
preservation organizations have
preserved 402 farms and more
than 33,900 acres. As Lancaster
County's population continues to
grow, one of the two fastest
growing counties in the state,
farmers will continue to face
more and more development
pressure. When thinking about
the decision to preserve your
farm, you may be confused about
which organization to use,
although both have a central goal
to preserve as much prime
farmland as possible. The
following is a comparison of the
Lancaster County Agricultural
Preserve Board and the Lancaster
Farmland Trust.
The Lancaster Ag
Preserve Board is a
Public (County)
Agency with their
Board serving as their
advisory body to the
County
Commissioners. The
Lancaster Farmland
Trust is an
independent, non-profit
organization (501
(c)(3) tax status), which
is an important
consideration for
Amish and other Plain
Sects The Ag Preserve
Board uses County
appropriated funds
fiom the general fund
and bonds, state
appropriated funds, and
limited federal funds to
purchase easements at
full-appraised value
(average price paid per
acre is $2000) The
Farmland Trust uses
private
grants
donations,
and
memberships toi its
funding No
government funding is
sought or accepted
Most easements are
donated or purchased at
a "bargain sale"
(average price paid per
acre is $490) The Ag
Preserve Board has
preserved 292 farms
since 1980, which is a
total ot 26,769 acres
with 50 farms expected
in 2000 The Farmland
Trust has preserved 110
farms since 1988,
which is a total of
7,163 aues with 15
farms expected in
2000
The waiting penoci
when preserving your
farm through the Ag
Preserve Boaid is
uncertain All
applications must be re
ran ked
yearly
Depending on soil
quality, development
pressure and other
criteria, the waiting
period could be brief or
extend tor several
yeais Preseiving yom
tarm through the
Farmland Trust takes
very little time when
the easement is donated
oi a low easement price
Farms within Urban Growth
Boundaries generally are not
preserved by either organization.
The Ag Preserve Board requires
farms to be zoned agriculture and
be in designated Agricultural
Security Areas. Township
officials designate ASA's, which
need to be at least 500 acres in
size for preservation. The
Farmland Trust does not require
your farm to be in an ASA. With
regard to intensive animal
agriculture, the Ag Preserve
Board has no limitations other
than a required conservation and
nutrient management plan. With
the Farmland Trust, limitations on
intensive animal agriculture are
only at the request of the
landowner and the Trust
encourages conservation and
nutrient management plans.
The Ag Preserve Board
generally limits the farm to one
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additional house per farm. With
the Farmland Trust, generally
they limit one house per 25 acres.
When your farm is preserved the
taxable estate is normally reduced
by the easement value.
Depending on the property's
original basis, some or all funds
received may be subject to
income tax, although a "like-kind
exchange" may be used. The
greater the donation of your
easement, the greater the potential
income tax deduction. The
flexibility of the Ag Preserve
Board is somewhat limited
because it is a government
agency. September Ist is the
yearly application deadline and
currently more than 150 farms are
awaiting funds. The Farmland
Trust can often respond at once to
landowner's unique needs because
of its private affiliation and
funding process.
For more information on the
Lancaster County Agricultural
Preserve Board, call (717) 299-
8355 and ask for June Mengal,
director. To reach the Lancaster
Farmland Trust call (717) 293-
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Brent Landis
Agriculture Services Coordinator
SSfflThe
Lancaster
Chamber
Utf Omimnrc Irvltivtrv
Phone: (717) 397-3531 ext. 62
E-mail:blandisOlccl.coni
0707 and ask for Tom Stouffer,
president. Many of the
agricultural counties across PA
have a County Ag Preserve
Board. Other preservation
organizations similar to the
Lancaster Farmland Trust are the
Berks County Conservancy, the
Brandywine Conservancy in
Chester County, and the Farm and
Natural Lands Trust of York
County.
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Enjoy this free event sponsored
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Please send your questions or
comments about Farmland
Preservation or Family Dairy
Days to Brent Landis at The
Lancaster Chamber at
blandis@lcci.com or 717-397-
3531.
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