PA Farmland
Preservation Association
Promoting Ag Land Preservation in Pennsylvania
Protecting Our Farmland: A Look at Key Legislation
To ensure the future of farms and preserve our valuable agricultural lands, several key pieces of legislation are in place.
Act 43: The Agricultural Area Security Law
The law is the cornerstone of protecting local farms.
What it does:
Gives the farmer confidence in their right to farm.
Forms the basis for the Easement Purchase Program, which helps preserve farmland.
How it works:
Landowners can voluntarily team up with their local municipality.
Together, they can designate at least 250 acres of farmland as an "Agricultural Security Area."
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Chapter 138e: Agricultural Conservation Easements
This program provides a financial incentive to preserve farmland.
What it does:
Slows down the loss of prime farmland to development.
Allows state, county, and local governments to buy "conservation easements," also known as "development rights," from farmers.
How it works:
Farmers who sell their development rights can continue to own and farm their land.
The program, which began in 1989, ensures the land remains in agricultural use.
To learn more about Act 43 or Chapter 138e, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Farmland Preservation.