Farmland in 20 Pennsylvania counties will remain viable for agricultural production thanks to this week’s approval of more than 6,400 acres on 58 farms by the state Farmland Preservation Board, said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff.

"Production agriculture is Pennsylvania's key source of food and fiber, and by protecting precious farmland, we can continue to provide for all citizens now and in the future," said Secretary Wolff. "As our number one industry, it is critical that we take every measure possible to keep farmland available to keep the industry growing."

A joint state, county and township investment of nearly $22.78 million will secure 58 additional farms and 6,422 acres in 20 counties.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Bill Wehry welcomed Jo Ellen Litz, a Lebanon County commissioner who joined the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board in April. Litz served on the Lebanon County Farmland Preservation Board from 1990-1996 and was a member of the county's Conservation District Board for 13 years. She succeeds Warren Elliot on the board.

In total, Pennsylvania has preserved 3,579 farms and 395,636 acres, making it the national leader in farmland preservation. Later this summer, the state will celebrate its 400,000 acre preservation milestone.

The latest preserved farms are in the following counties: Bedford, Berks, Butler, Bucks, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Mifflin, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Susquehanna, Union, Washington, and York.

The state's farmland preservation program works through the Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program, which was developed 20 years ago to help slow the loss of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses. The program enables state, county and local governments to purchase conservation easements, also called development rights, from owners of quality farmland.

"As we celebrate the program's 20th anniversary, we can reflect on the positive work that has been done to protect farmland, and we can look forward to continuing Pennsylvania's rich farming tradition," said Secretary Wolff.

For more information, visit the Farmland Preservation webpage.

6/20/2008