By 1808Delaware
More Ohio farmland will remain Ohio farmland. The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is proud to announce multiple new additions to the Farmland Preservation program.
One of those additions involved 100 acres in Delaware County, with the easement donated by local farmer Benjamin J. Watkins. Other acreages involved are located in Fayette, Madison, Huron, Licking, Morrow, and Clinton counties.
In 2023, a total of 29 farms joined the program.
Agricultural land is a key part of Ohio’s landscape. Preserving this land is essential. An agricultural easement in Farmland Preservation is a voluntary agreement between the landowner and ODA, where the landowner agrees to perpetually maintain the land predominately in agricultural use. In exchange, the landowner is either compensated or may be entitled to a tax deduction.
In partnership with ODA, local sponsors Fayette Soil and Water Conservation District, Madison County Commissioners, Delaware County Commissioners, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Licking Soil and Water Conservation District, Morrow Soil and Water Conservation District and Clinton Soil and Water Conservation District respectively played significant roles in securing these agreements.
Since the Office of Farmland Preservation began in 1998, 709 farms totaling 105,856 acres have entered into agreements. This enables Ohio to continually be a top producer, aiding not just Ohioans, but all Americans.
Funds from the purchase of these easements are invested in the local economy by the landowners who use them by expanding their farming operations, purchasing new equipment, reducing debt, adding conservation practices, planning for retirement, sending their children to college or for other purposes. When the state purchases a farmland easement, the proceeds are plowed into Ohio’s economy and our agriculture industry is preserved for future generations.
Source: Ohio Department of Agriculture; Image by Pexels from Pixabay
