2 Bucks Co. Farms Preserved Under PA Program

BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — Two Bucks County farms will be preserved in perpetuity, including one dating back to the 1700s, through Pennsylvania's Farmland Preservation Program.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has announced the preservation of 1,228 acres across 22 farms through the purchase of development rights for $5.8 million, protecting them from future residential or commercial development.

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"Every farm preserved is a promise to the next generation — a promise that productive farmland, family legacies and Pennsylvania's agricultural heritage will endure," Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. "From a Bucks County farm with roots stretching back more than 260 years to an Adams County family preserving its fourth farm, these stories show the lasting impact of farmland preservation. The Shapiro Administration is proud to partner with farm families and local communities to protect the land that sustains our agriculture and our Commonwealth for generations to come."

Among the conservation easements secured this month, standouts include a 32-acre crop farm in Bedminster Township dating back to 1765 and owned by David N. Leopold and Laura S. Rathgeb.

The farm's landscape was frequently featured in the work of internationally recognized artist Ben Solowey, who purchased the property in 1936. The farm also borders other protected farmland, helping maintain the area's agricultural character.

Also preserved as part of the announcement is the Kinney Family Limited Partnership, a 49-acre crop farm in Buckingham Township.

"Once farmland is gone, we don't get it back. Preserving it helps protect the agricultural heritage that's key to both our history and our future in Buck County," said State Rep. Tim Brennan, who represents Buckingham in Harrisburg. "Protecting working farms here in Bucks County means preserving our local character and keeping farmland available for future generations."

The state is spending $658,554, while the county is chipping in $356,616 to buy the development rights to the two county farms.

In August, the Shapiro Administration announced an investment of more than $9.1 million to preserve 34 farms and 2,565 acres. So far in 2026, Pennsylvania has invested more than $41 million in 134 preserved farms and 10,118 acres.

In 2025, Pennsylvania preserved 167 farms and 14,147 prime acres of farmland across the state, investing more than $50.1 million. These joint investments by state and local governments ensure that Pennsylvania farmers will have the prime-quality land they need to continue supporting families, communities, and jobs.

All of this is possible through Pennsylvania's Farmland Preservation Program, in which the state partners with local governments and nonprofits to purchase development rights to preserve farmland, ensuring a strong future for farming and food security. By selling development rights, farm owners ensure their farms remain in agricultural production and are never sold to developers.

Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserved farms. Since 1988, when voters statewide overwhelmingly supported the state's Farmland Preservation Program, Pennsylvania has protected 6,781 farms and 671,082 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.83 billion in state, county, and local funds.