Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program

Developed in 1988 to slow the loss of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses, this program enables state, county, and local governments to purchase agricultural conservation easements (development rights) directly from owners of quality farmland. 58 participating county programs receive state funds; a state board distributes funds and approves county programs and purchases. More than 662,000 acres have been preserved — Pennsylvania leads the nation. Administered by the PDA Bureau of Farmland Preservation with county Agricultural Land Preservation Boards and the State Agricultural Land Preservation Board.

Farms are ranked against other parcels on Quality of Farmland (minimum 50 acres, or 35 if the county opts in, or as small as 10 acres if adjacent to preserved land or growing crops unique to the area; at least 50% harvested cropland/pasture/grazing and at least 50% soils of land capability classes I-IV), Stewardship, and Likelihood of Conversion. The property must lie within an Agricultural Security Area (at least 500 acres of viable agricultural land in one or more ownerships).

The landowner is paid the appraised easement value — the difference between the property's market value and its farmland (agricultural) value. Proceeds may be taken as a lump sum, installments up to 5 years, or long-term installments. Easements are permanent (the prior 25-year extinguishment provision was repealed by Act 44 of 2011). Governed by the Agricultural Area Security Law (Act 43 of 1981, amended by Act 149 of 1988). Easements may be purchased using state, county, or other funds.

Landowners apply through their county Agricultural Land Preservation Board (not the state). The county ranks applications and forwards them to the State Board, which approves the purchase after offers are made. County application materials and a county contact list are published on the program page.