Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program
Darke SWCD is pleased to announce that we will once again be a local sponsor for Farmland Preservation in 2019. Anyone interested in applying for Farmland Preservation funding is encourage to stop by or call the office to discuss the program. A form to apply for funding can be obtained at the office or by filling out the request below.
2019 Local Agricultural Easements Approved
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Agriculture recently announced approval for local sponsors to purchase agricultural easements on 42 family farms representing 5,851 acres in 23 counties.
Local sponsoring organizations, which include land trusts, counties and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, receive funding from the Clean Ohio Fund to manage the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP). The easement ensures farms remain permanently in agricultural production. The program supports the state’s largest industry, food and agriculture.
To be eligible for the program, farms must be larger than 40 acres or next to a preserved farm, actively engaged in farming, participate in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation program, demonstrate good stewardship of the land, have support from local government and not be in close proximity to development. Landowners may use the proceeds of the easement in any way they wish, but most reinvest it in their farm operation.
Communities wishing to participate next year can apply to be Certified Local Sponsors between August 20 and October 11, 2019. Certified Local Sponsors assist landowners interested in selling easements with the application process, easement closing and monitoring, and are ODA’s valued partners in carrying out the Ohio Farmland Preservation program.
Funding for the state’s farmland preservation efforts is derived from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, approved by voters in 2008, and used to purchase agricultural easements from willing sellers through a competitive process. From 2002 to 2019, 466 family farms in 60 counties have collectively preserved 65,462 acres in agricultural production. Permanent easements preserved under related programs bring the total acres currently preserved in Ohio to over 76,000.
ODA 2019 Local Agricultural Easements were approved for purchase in these counties:
Allen
Belmont
Butler
Champaign
Clark
Clinton
Darke
Delaware
Fairfield
Fayette
Fulton
Greene
Huron
Knox
Licking
Logan
Madison
Miami
Montgomery
Morrow
Muskingum
Seneca
Warren
Local sponsoring organizations, which include land trusts, counties and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, receive funding from the Clean Ohio Fund to manage the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP). The easement ensures farms remain permanently in agricultural production. The program supports the state’s largest industry, food and agriculture.
To be eligible for the program, farms must be larger than 40 acres or next to a preserved farm, actively engaged in farming, participate in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation program, demonstrate good stewardship of the land, have support from local government and not be in close proximity to development. Landowners may use the proceeds of the easement in any way they wish, but most reinvest it in their farm operation.
Communities wishing to participate next year can apply to be Certified Local Sponsors between August 20 and October 11, 2019. Certified Local Sponsors assist landowners interested in selling easements with the application process, easement closing and monitoring, and are ODA’s valued partners in carrying out the Ohio Farmland Preservation program.
Funding for the state’s farmland preservation efforts is derived from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, approved by voters in 2008, and used to purchase agricultural easements from willing sellers through a competitive process. From 2002 to 2019, 466 family farms in 60 counties have collectively preserved 65,462 acres in agricultural production. Permanent easements preserved under related programs bring the total acres currently preserved in Ohio to over 76,000.
ODA 2019 Local Agricultural Easements were approved for purchase in these counties:
Allen
Belmont
Butler
Champaign
Clark
Clinton
Darke
Delaware
Fairfield
Fayette
Fulton
Greene
Huron
Knox
Licking
Logan
Madison
Miami
Montgomery
Morrow
Muskingum
Seneca
Warren
Reference Documents
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