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Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program
Developed in 1988 to help slow the loss of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses, the program enables state, county and local governments to purchase conservation easements (sometimes called development rights) from owners of quality farmland. The first easements were purchased in 1989. Counties participating in the program have appointed agricultural land preservation boards with a state board created to oversee this program. The state board is responsible for distribution of state funds, approval and monitoring of county programs and specific easement purchases. [Source: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us]
