Farmland preservation continues

Franklin County is continuing its aggressive approach to farmland preservation, adding eight more farms from Antrim, Greene, Guilford, Montgomery, Peters and Southampton Townships to the list so far this year. The latest addition, the 178 acre Eldon and Ruth Helman property in Guilford Township, was approved Aug. 9 at the State Farmland Preservation Board meeting in Harrisburg, attended by Franklin County Commissioner Warren Elliott, the only commissioner to sit on the statewide board.

These farms bring the countywide total to over 11,200 acres on 82 farms with dairy, beef, crop and orchard operations. According to Elliott, "It is good to see that the program has sustained its momentum from last year. Agriculture remains our number one industry and we need to maintain our finest soils to feed our people."

Pennsylvania continues to lead the nation in agricultural land preservation and now has 3273 farms preserved totaling more than 365,553 acres. Franklin County currently ranks eighth out of the 53 county programs statewide.

Additional information regarding the Agricultural Land Preservation Program is available through the Franklin County Planning Commission at 261- 3855.