Farmland preservation programs in Butler County help to preserve farmland through the purchase of development rights or conservation easement.

A farm must go through several steps to enter the preservation program. Sometimes, the entire process can take more than a year. Funding must be available for more farms to be preserved.

Entering an agricultural security area is voluntary. This is the first step for farmers interested in preserving their farms. Farmers must submit a petition to their township in order to create an area.

The benefits of entering a security area include special considerations in township ordinances affecting farming activities, nuisance complaints and review of farmland condemnation.

Landowners interested in the conservation easement program should contact the Butler County Conservation District office. Applications are due by Jan. 31.

Each potential candidate for farmland preservation is ranked against all other farms completing the application. A farm's rank is based on the quality of the farmland, stewardship and the likelihood of the conversion of the farm to nonagricultural uses. The landowner must have at least 50acres.

The farmland preservation board reviews each application. The board calculates land value of the farm as used for agriculture and the value of the land if it were to be developed for nonagricultural purposes.

Once selected, the property is appraised by a state certified appraiser. The easement purchase price per acre is derived from the difference between the agricultural land value and the development value.

The applicant must then accept or reject the offer of the county preservation board to purchase the conservation easement. When the offer is accepted, the property must by surveyed to determine the exact amount of acreage.

Once the conservation easement purchase price has been agreed upon, the application is sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Farmland Preservation Board.

The number of farms preserved each year depends upon the availability of funds.

Ron Fodor is district manager of the Butler County Conservation District.