Pennsylvania Invests More Than $10.2 Million To Ensure 31 Farms, 2,645 Acres Of Prime Farmland In 20 Counties Stay Farms Forever

On April 9, the Department of Agriculture announced Pennsylvania is investing more than $10.2 million to purchase development rights for 2,645 acres on 31 farms in 20 counties, protecting them from future residential or commercial development and continuing the Administration’s support of one of Pennsylvania’s key industries.

Farms were preserved in Berks, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Chester, Cumberland, Franklin, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Washington, Westmoreland and York counties.

“Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserved farmland, thanks to the unwavering commitment of our farm families and strong support at every level of government,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Many of these farmers have been offered the opportunity to sell their land for development, but they’ve chosen instead to stay committed to feeding our Commonwealth and carrying on their families’ farming traditions. The Shapiro Administration is honoring that commitment by protecting farmland and investing in the innovation and infrastructure needed to sustain Pennsylvania agriculture for generations to come.”

Among the farm families that chose to preserve their farms today are farmers Robert Pardoe Jr. and John Marsteller Jr., who have resisted the pressure to sell their land for development, choosing instead to preserve their farms and continue farming in Northumberland and York counties.

The Marsteller farm, for example, includes seven parcels creating a 2,700-acre block of preserved farmland. This will be the Marsteller family’s fourth preserved easement since setting a state record with a 1,063-acre easement in 1993.

“It’s been important for me and my family to not only farm the land, but to make sure that there are farms, and productive ones, for the future,” Marsteller said. “My mom always said that I was born on a tractor. I’ve been driving trucks and tractors since I was five years old. I was born and raised on the same farm that I live on today.”

Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserved farms. Since 1988, when voters statewide overwhelmingly supported creating the state’s Farmland Preservation Program, Pennsylvania has protected 6,704 farms and 665,585 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.84 billion in state, county, and local funds.

Visit Agriculture's Farmland Preservation webpage to learn more about this program.

Click Here for a list of farms preserved.

[Posted: April 9, 2026]  PA Environment Digest