County finalizes 3rd agricultural easement
WAYNESBURG – The Greene County commissioners and the Greene County Farmland Preservation board of directors announced Thusday the county has finalized the purchase of its third agricultural easement in Greene County.
The purchase of 112.07 acres of farmland owned by Harley M. and Janet L. Gapen and located in Greene Township was encumbered April 18 and finalized July 31. The purchase brings the county’s total preserved farmland to 320 acres.
The total cost of the easement is $95,259.95, with the state Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Farmland Preservation providing all of the funding. The commissioners accepted the agreement of sale for the conservation easement at their Dec. 13, 2012, regular meeting. The 112.07 acres will continue to be managed as a conservation cropping system, using contour farming and no-till practices.
The Gapen easement follows the preservations of two farms located in Cumberland Township. Last year, the county preserved 100 acres owned by the James F. and Pearl Willis Living Trust Farm, and 108 acres owned by William and Lura Ann Cree were preserved in 2008. The Crees’ dairy farm was the first Greene County farm entered into the state’s Farmland Preservation Program.
Agricultural conservation easements can be used to permanently protect family farmland from future non-agricultural development, expand or improve farm operations or help with estate planning for landowners. Eligible properties must be located within an approved agricultural security area, in addition to other requirements.
The Greene County Farmland Preservation program accepts applications for future agricultural conservation easements every year from April 15 through June 15. For more information, call the Greene County Conservation District at 724-852-5278 or e-mail gccd@co.greene.pa.us.