By 1808Delaware
More Ohio farmland will remain Ohio farmland, including 64 acres in rural Delaware County.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture has announced that more than 907 acres across the state were permanently preserved for agricultural use during the first three months of 2026 through Ohio’s Farmland Preservation Program. Among the newly protected properties are two Delaware County farms: Lanum Farm and Stratford Farm. Together, they add another local piece to a statewide effort that has been building for more than a quarter century.
A Permanent Commitment To Agriculture
The Farmland Preservation Program allows landowners to voluntarily place an agricultural easement on their property. Once that easement is in place, the land is protected permanently for agricultural use.
For landowners, the arrangement can provide compensation or certain tax benefits. For the state, it helps preserve the working land that supports Ohio’s farm economy, rural character, and food production.
“Each year we’re excited to see more farmland in Ohio placed in the Farmland Preservation Program,” Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge said. “Agriculture remains one of Ohio’s top industries and preserving land for future generations of farmers helps strengthen the state’s agricultural heritage.”
Delaware County Farms Added
Two Delaware County properties were included in the 2026 additions announced by ODA.
- Lanum Farm, owned by STB3, LLC, added approximately 53 acres to the program.
- Stratford Farm, owned by Stratford Ecological Center, Inc., added approximately 11 acres.
Together, the two properties account for about 64 acres of newly preserved farmland in the county. The addition is especially notable in a fast-growing county where rural land, development pressure, and long-term agricultural use often intersect. Preservation easements give farm owners a way to keep land in production while ensuring that future ownership changes do not remove the land from agriculture.
Local Sponsors Play A Key Role
The state program depends heavily on local partnerships. ODA works with certified local sponsors, which may include counties, cities, townships, soil and water conservation districts, land trusts, and other nonprofit organizations. Those sponsors help acquire, hold, manage, and enforce agricultural easements. They also play an ongoing role in monitoring preserved properties to ensure the land remains protected as intended.
Because some farmland preservation projects may involve federal funding, ODA is prohibited by federal law from disclosing certain information about projects that are still under consideration for agricultural easement purchases.
The two local partnerships are with the Delaware County Commissioners.
A Statewide Preservation Effort
Ohio’s Office of Farmland Preservation was established in 1998. Since then, 780 farms totaling more than 112,664 acres have entered into preservation agreements.
The program is designed not only to protect acreage, but also to support the long-term viability of farm families and rural communities. Funds received through easement purchases are often reinvested into farm operations or local economies. Landowners may use proceeds to expand operations, purchase equipment, reduce debt, add conservation practices, plan for retirement, or support the next generation of farmers.
Keeping Ohio’s Working Land Working
For state agriculture officials, farmland preservation is about more than protecting open space. It is also about maintaining Ohio’s ability to produce food, fuel, and fiber while preserving a landscape that has shaped communities for generations. For Delaware County, the newly preserved acreage represents a modest but meaningful addition to that effort. In a place where growth continues to reshape the map, these 64 acres now carry a permanent promise: they will remain farmland.
