Farmland Preservation Presentation Archive

Which path to preserving your farmland is best for you? 
Two programs differ in many ways

In Pennsylvania, farm owners can permanently preserve their farmland with the help of private, charitable land trusts, or through the Commonwealth’s Purchased Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) Program, jointly administered by the state and county agricultural land preservation boards. Both private and public approaches have long-standing and proven records of preserving farmland.

The Centre County Planning and Community Development Office manages the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's PACE program, which pays approved applicants for their development rights so that the land can never be developed. The Centre County Agricultural Land Preservation Board has been preserving farms since 1991. 

The Centre County Farmland Trust, founded in 1994 as a private, non-profit organization, permanently preserves farms using the WeConservePA land trust model. The program is not affiliated with Centre County's PACE program.

Both offer a path to farmland preservation, but each program differs in many ways. Landowners are encouraged to explore which approach will best meet their needs and goals.

WeConservePA has produced a comprehensive guide to understanding the differences between these two approaches to farmland preservation. This Paths to Farmland Preservation guide has been adapted for Centre County farm owners interested in preservation and contains hyperlinks to additional resources. 

Presentation to the Centre County Farmland Trust, May 20, 2023
Which path to preserving your farmland is best for you? 
In Pennsylvania, farm owners can permanently preserve their farmland with the help of private, charitable land trusts, or through the Commonwealth’s Purchased Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) Program, jointly administered by the state and county agricultural land preservation boards. Both private and public approaches have long-standing and proven records of preserving farmland.

The Centre County Planning and Community Development Office manages the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's PACE program, which pays approved applicants for their development rights so that the land can never be developed. The Centre County Agricultural Land Preservation Board has been preserving farms since 1991. 

The Centre County Farmland Trust, founded in 1994 as a private, non-profit organization, permanently preserves farms using the WeConservePA land trust model. The program is not affiliated with Centre County's PACE program.

Both offer a path to farmland preservation, but each program differs in many ways. Landowners are encouraged to explore which approach will best meet their needs and goals.

Presentation to the Centre County Association of Township Officials' Spring Convention

Centre County Agricultural Land Preservation Coordinator Diana Griffith presented on the Municipal Partnership Program at the Centre County Association of Township Officials' Spring Convention at CPI, explaining how municipal partners help the Centre County Agricultural Land Preservation Board leverage funds to preserve prime farmland within their municipalities. Municipal contributions help reduce the amount the Commonwealth has to pay to preserve farms — freeing up funds to preserve even more farms. Presented April 19, 2023.

Presentation to the Centre County Commissioners on State Allocation and MPP
This year's generous State allocation for farmland preservation in Centre County illustrates the vital role of municipal partners in empowering the Centre County Commissioners to certify the highest funding threshold since 2017, when the Commissioners certified $375,834.  The Centre County Commissioners certified $352,184 (rounded) in farmland preservation funding for 2023, resulting in a State allocation of $727,350 (rounded) from the Bureau of Farmland Preservation, for a combined total of $1,079,533 in State and County funds. The significantly higher amount allocated for Centre County this year was largely determined by the commitment of Halfmoon Township as well as municipal contributions from Potter Township and Ferguson Township. Presented March 14, 2023.

2023 Visual Tour of Preserved Farms in Centre County
Published February 6, 2023.

An Agricultural History and Visual Tour of Penns Valley and Brush Valley farms featuring some of Centre County's preserved farms
This agricultural history and visual tour of Penns Valley and Brush Valley farms was funded by Verizon Wireless to fulfill Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) stipulations to mitigate adverse effects from a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wireless telecommunications facility in Centre County.  
Published February 3, 2023.

Presentation to the Ferguson Township Board of Supervisors
Ferguson Township is one of three participating municipal partners in Centre County's PACE program. Presented October 18, 2022.

Preserving Centre County Farmland Forever
Presentation to the Ag Forum of Centre County
Presented September 8, 2021.

Stewards of Our Farmland: How a Centre County Board and the Commonwealth are Securing a Future for Our Farmers
CBICC ABC Essentials Presentation
Presented May 19, 2020.
 
Stewards of Our Farmland presentation
Visual tour of Centre County’s preserved farmland in Benner, Ferguson, Harris, Marion, Potter, Spring and Walker townships. Published January 2020.