Farmland Preservation Council accepting applications | News, Sports, Jobs

The Lycoming County Agricultural Land Preservation Board is accepting applications, according to a news release.

The deadline for submitting applications is close of business on October 31. Participants in the Farmland Preservation Program are selling development rights to their farm through a combined state and county purchase, the news release said. Farms must be registered in a Farm Security Zone and applicants must submit the entire parcel(s) described on the deed. They must be 50 acres or adjacent to an existing easement, at least 50% cropland, pasture or pasture.

Although the farmer retains the property, he is able to earn income from the farm with the assurance that the property will remain in farming forever. To date, Lycoming County has over 10,000 acres of farmland preserved through this program. A $50 processing fee is charged for each request, the press release said. For more information or to obtain an application form, please contact Mark Davidson at 570-433-3003.