Agriculture Secretary Joins Celebration of Lancaster County Farmland Preservation, Highlights Opportunities for Preserved Farm Owners

Lancaster, PA - With nearly 300 industry members at the Lancaster Farmland Trust annual dinner Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding commended Lancaster County for its investments to secure a strong future for Pennsylvania agriculture and highlighted the vast array of opportunities available to preserved farm owners through the Pennsylvania Farm Bill.

“Over 30 years ago, Lancaster County had the foresight to begin investing in the future and preserving its agricultural land for perpetuity,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “It was programs like this that were top of mind when Governor Wolf first proposed the PA Farm Bill early this year.”

In July, Governor Tom Wolf signed the first-ever Pennsylvania Farm Bill which enhances the investments made through Pennsylvania’s leading farmland preservation program through the following programs:

·         The Agriculture Business Development Center which provides resources to support business planning, marketing, diversification, and transition planning;

·         A realty transfer tax exemption for the transfer of preserved farmland to a qualified beginning farmer; and

·         A tax credit for new and beginning farmers.

“Over 5,500 farms have said yes to Pennsylvania agriculture,” added Redding. “And now, we are saying yes to them by ensuring their future success through these investments.”

The PA Farm Bill is Governor Wolf’s bold, aggressive, and necessary investment in Pennsylvania agriculture to grow opportunities and resources, remove barriers to entry, and inspire future generations of leader for the industry.

For more about the PA Farm Bill’s investments in agriculture visit agriculture.pa.gov.