Farmland Preservation

Farmland Preservation Program

Technical Assistance from American Farmland Trust

Farmland Preservation in Clinton County, 2000-2001

Since January 2000, the County Ag Preservation Board, in cooperation with the PA Bureau of Farmland Protection, Bureau of Farmland Preservation, has purchased conservation easements on the Gregory Nedurian farm, the Kenneth Yearick farm, and the Frederick Chappell farm.

The closing for the conservation easement on Ralph and Jean Brungart's 131.9 acre farm was completed in September, 1999, and closing for the conservation easement on Craig and Charlene Cella's 105.5 acre farm was in January, 2000. The Nedurian easement was purchased in late 2000 and the Yearick and Chappell farm easements were completed in 2001.

Farmland Preservation in Clinton County

The purpose of the program is to protect viable agricultural lands by acquiring agricultural conservation easements which prevent the development or improvement of the land for any purpose other than agricultural production. The program encourages landowners to make a long-term commitment to agriculture by offering them financial incentives and security of land use. It protects normal farming operations from incompatible non-farming uses and from complaints of public nuisance against normal farming operations.

Conservation Easements in Clinton County protect the agricultural economy and provide compensation to landowners in exchange for their relinquishment of the right to develop their private property.

Clinton County now has approximately 700 acres on 9 farms, preserved forever as farmland. Funds for easements are provided by appropriations from County Commissioners and from a two cents per pack, cigarette tax, provided by the state. Clinton County's contribution to easements has been $175,000 over a period of 6 years; state funding for Clinton County easements has been nearly $600,000.

Pennsylvania has 1,838 farms preserved with a total of 221,861 acres under perpetual easement. The maximum price paid by the state per acre is $10,000 plus administrative costs. In Clinton County, the average price per acre paid for easements is $1000 plus administrative costs. This is comparable to the cost in Lycoming and Blair Counties; it is generally higher than Mifflin County and lower than Centre.

Clinton County's Farmland Preservation Board of Directors are: Chairman Daniel Harger, Vice-Chairman Kenneth Yearick, Ralph Dotterer, Daniel Schrack, R. Stewart Ramm and Thomas Bossert. Secretary-Administrator is Suzanne Foust.

James R. (Bob) Watson and his son Jim feed livestock. Bob and Jim share chores on this 158 acre farm on the Jacksonville Road in Porter Township, owned by Bob and his wife Sandy. A conservation easement purchased jointly by the State and Clinton County preserves the land on this farm for agricultural purposes forever. This is the fourth such conservation easement purchased in Clinton County. Over 400 acres have been placed in the program during 1996, 1997 and 1998.

BACKGROUND:

In 1996, Clinton County spent more than $265,000 for the purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements for the Farmland Preservation Program. Easements on 3 farms were purchased - the William L. Miller farm, The Steven Shipman farm, and the Ralph Cerrato Farm. In all, over 285 acres of farmland and woodlots were preserved, never to be developed.

Through the voluntary selling of conservation easements, farmers are paid the difference between the agricultural value and the nonagricultural value of their land. This technique helps farmers who are feeling the pressures of development to sell what can be called, "development rights" and still continue to farm. If that is done, then the owner of the easement, the county and/or state, has the right to say no to development.

A public informational meeting was held in early 1995, others in spring of 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. Board meetings are open to the public. They are held when there is business to conduct, the 4th Tuesday of the month. During 1998, 7 board meetings were held.

Anyone interested in the Agricultural Land Preservation Program should call the program administrator Suzanne Foust at (570) 726-6916, County Planning at (570) 893-4080, or Penn State Cooperative Extension at (570) 726-0022.

AGRICULTURE PRESERVATION BOARD

Daniel Harger, Chair,
744 East Water Street
Lock Haven, PA 17745
term expires, 12/31/01

Kenneth Yearick, Vice-Chair,
RR#3, Box 569
Mill Hall, PA 17751
term expires, 12/31/02

Stewart Ramm, Director,
HRC 80, Box 31
Lock Haven, PA 17745
term expires, 12/31/2001

Dan Schrack, Director,
RD #2, Box 67
Loganton, PA 17747
term expires, 12/31/2001

Ralph Dotterer, Sr., Director,
RR #3, Box 589
Mill Hall, PA 17751
term expires, 12/31/2001

Thomas Bossert, Director,
Beech Creek Avenue
Mill Hall, PA 17751; term expires, 12/31/2002

AGRICULTURE PRESERVATION BOARD ADVISORS

Clinton County Board of Commissioners: County Commissioner Richard Kyle, County Commissioner Thomas Bossert, County Commissioner Harold (Bud) Yost.

Suzanne Foust, Administrator/Secretary of Agriculture Preservation Board, (570) 893-1223

James Ladlee, Executive Director, Penn State Cooperative Extension, (570) 726-0022

Timothy Holladay, Planner, Clinton County Planning Commission, (570) 893-4080

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