BURNHAM — Mifflin County’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board has announced that applications will be accepted until the close of business on May 30, 2025 for the Mifflin County Agland Preservation Program.

Generally known as the “Conservation Easement Program,” Mifflin County’s Agricultural Land Preservation Program is now preparing to enter its 32nd year of operation. The purpose of the program is to permanently preserve our most valuable and productive agricultural land through the purchase or donation of conservation easements, often called “development rights”. This program is designed as a competitive one in which only the highest ranked farm(s) are selected for conservation easement purchases.

To be eligible, a tract of farmland must first meet minimum criteria. See https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/farmland/Documents/A%20Guide%20to%20Farmland%20Preservation.pdf Administrative Manual Section 1.2, p.3):

1. Located in an agricultural security area.

2. Contiguous acreage of at least 50 acres, unless the tract is at least 10 acres and is utilized for a crop unique to the area or is contiguous to a property which has a perpetual conservation easement in place.

3. Contain at least 50% soils of capability classes I through IV.

4. Contain the greater of 50% or 10 acres of harvested cropland, pasture or grazing land.

While these are the minimum criteria established to be eligible for the program, the ranking system places a considerable priority on preserving the count’s best agricultural soils. Once the farm meets the minimum criteria it is scored on a Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) worksheet. The LESA criteria have been carefully established by the County Board to select those farms with the highest quality soils and highest potential for remaining a viable and productive enterprise.

While most conservation easements in the county have been purchased, the Mifflin County program also provides the option for landowners to donate or enter into a “bargain sale” for their development rights. This gives landowners the ability to preserve their land and possibly qualify for certain tax deduction benefits in lieu of receiving compensation for the easement.

Statewide there are currently 6,434 farms under conservation easements, totaling 646,754 acres. Mifflin County now has 31 farms preserved totaling 3,434 acres.

Mifflin County’s program is administered by the Mifflin County Conservation District. To obtain an application, owners can visit the district website (www.mifflinccd.com) or visit the Mifflin County Conservation District office, 20 Windmill Hill no. 4, Burnham. Questions can be directed to Trevor Weaver, by phone (717) 953-3148 or e-mail tweaver@mifflinccd.com.