Legislative Budget and Finance Committe audit of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program

An Act amending the act of June 30, 1981 (P. L. 128, No. 43), known as the "Agricultural Area Security Law," further providing for agricultural areas, public hearings, evaluation criteria, decisions and reviews of proposed areas, appeals, limitation on local agencies, policy of Commonwealth agencies, limitations on exercise of eminent domain and purchases of development easements in agricultural areas; authorizing the issuance of bonds for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements; making an appropriation; and making editorial changes. House Bill No. 442.

This is a copy of Act 43, which created the Agricultural Security Area program. The document reflects all revisions to this statute, through Act 19 of 2013.

The Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program enables state and county governments to purchase conservation easements on productive farms. The easements protect the farmland from non-agricultural development. (print edition of ConservationTools.org guide)

A Guide to Farmland Preservation will help guide local Pennsylvania organizations through the process of preparing agricultural conservation easement purchase applications for consideration by the State Board. Page 29 describes the installment purchase of agricultural conservation easements by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture through bonds issued by the New Garden General Authority.

A primer on the benefits of farmland preservation, this 20 page publication discusses the significance of farmlands relative to the health of the Chesapeake and includes tools for preserving farmland. It also includes a comprehensive list of information sources for federal, state, local and private programs and assistance.

The annual reports provide an overview of farmland preservation tools in Pennsylvania and their track record for 2015, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2009 and 2008. They include data on the participation in the Clean and Green program and a list of all agricultural security areas in the state by county and township.

Fifty-seven Pennsylvania counties have agricultural land preservation boards that purchase agricultural conservation easements. Sixty-five private charitable organizations accept donations of conservation easements or, less commonly, purchase them. These two paths to farmland preservation differ in many ways.

Chapter 138e of the Pennsylvania Code addresses the state's Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program. It includes the rules for the Land Trust Reimbursement Grant Program.

Provides basic information on the purchase program as well additional resources, including a list of farmland preservation county administrators.

A summary of regulations that impact agriculture in Pennsylvania and an explanation of tools that municipalities can use to grow and protect agriculture within their boundaries.

This report discusses the various zoning and preservation practices being used by municipalities in York County. It includes Agricultural Protection Zoning (APZ), Agricultural Security Areas, Conservation Easement Programs, and Clean & Green. It also provides an overview of legal challenges related to APZ.