Farmland preservation applications due Dec. 31
Since 1996, the Delaware AgLands Preservation Program has preserved 127,000 acres of the state’s 508,000 acres currently in agricultural production. After a few years with reduced funding due to statewide budget woes, the program received full funding this year from Delaware’s General Assembly at $10 million.
“Delaware has the best farmland preservation program in the country. We have preserved 25 percent of our landmass in agriculture, but we have a lot more to go,” said Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse. “Farmland preservation is an important tool that guarantees land will be available for future generations so that we can continue to produce the agricultural commodities needed to feed Delawareans and our neighbors.”
The Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation voted to extended district enrollment until Monday, Dec. 31, to any agricultural landowners who want to preserve their farms and still have the opportunity to submit an application for the upcoming round. Farms must be enrolled in a preservation district before the landowner can sell an easement.
According to the Delaware AgLands Preservation Program, there are currently 300 farms participating in the 10-year voluntary preservation districts eligible to sell their development rights during Round 23. Those farms comprise an additional 46,000 acres that could be permanently preserved.
“Agriculture is an economic driver here in Delaware. Our family farms contribute $8 billion to the economy, and ensuring their sustainability through farmland preservation is important to Delaware’s future,” said Gov. John Carney. “Delaware is fortunate to be within eight hours of most of the major population centers, which creates an opportunity for our family farmers producing fruits, vegetables, chickens and grains to enter the retail market. And with the recent agreement to further develop the Port of Wilmington, we are helping to open future international markets for our farmers.”
Typically, landowners are eligible to submit a bid to sell their farm’s development rights the year after they enroll their farm in a district agreement. District applications for the upcoming year would usually have closed Dec. 31, 2017; however, the foundation members were concerned that landowners might not have applied by the deadline fearing uncertainty for this year’s budget, so the deadline was extended for a year.
The foundation approves applications using an impartial discounted ranking system that maximizes benefits for the taxpayer. The foundation does not own the land, but rather purchases landowners’ development rights and has a permanent agricultural conservation easement placed on the property.
For more information or applications, go to https://agriculture.delaware.gov or call 302-698-4530.
