10,000 Acres Of Farmland Now Preserved In Montgomery County

NORRISTOWN, PA — Montgomery County has announced that they have reached an important milestone in their farmland preservation program: 10,000 acres are now protected within the county.

The announcement, which came during the Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday morning, was followed by an authorization for an additional $90,000 in funding for the program.

“The importance of local food provided by Montco farms cannot be understated,” Montgomery County Commissioner Ken Lawrence said. “The growth of the farm-to-table movement has decreased both food miles traveled and carbon footprints to make it a win-win for everyone."

Farms that enter into the program can still be bought and sold, but it must remain a working farm forever. It not only improves the environment and keeps the historic heritage of the region alive and thriving, but it's an important way to support the local economy, officials say.

"Local farms are also critical partners in our anti-hunger efforts to support people in need by providing healthy, local food to our residents,” Lawrence added.

All told, the county has 177 farms, combining for a total of 10,196 acres countywide.

The additional funding announced during Thursday's meeting means that, in addition to state funding, the program will now have more than $2 million of support annually.

Montgomery County's Agricultural Land Preservation Program was launched in 1990. The county program is part of a larger state program that includes participation by 59 counties throughout the Commonwealth. For more information on the program, see here.