Agriculture Land Preservation board accepting applications
The Lycoming County Agricultural Land Preservation Board is accepting applications, according to a news release.
The deadline for submitting applications is the close of business on Oct. 31. Participants in the Agricultural Land Preservation Program sell the development rights for their farm through a combined state and county purchase, the news release said. Farms are required to be enrolled in an agricultural security area and applicants must submit the entire parcel or parcels described on the deed. They must be 50 acres in size or adjacent to an existing easement, at least 50% cropland, pasture or grazing land.
While the farmer retains ownership, he is able to realize income from the farm and still have the assurance that the property will remain in agriculture forever. To date, Lycoming County has over 10,000 acres of farmland preserved through this program. A $50 processing fee is required with each application, the news release said. For more information or to obtain an application form, please contact Mark Davidson at 570-433-3003.