From Staff Reports
LOCK HAVEN - The Clinton County Agriculture Preservation Board is reminding local farm owners about a special revision to their application deadline for this year for ranking Farmland Preservation applications.
Normally applications are only submitted for ranking in odd years. However, this year applications accepted for ranking will be current for three years.
The board wants to remind area farmland owners of 35 acres or more, the current round of applications to the Farmland Preservation Program will be accepted until April 15, 2026.
This round of applications will remain eligible for April 15, 2026 to March 31, 2029.
The next round of rankings will be held again in April 2027, and they will remain eligible until March 2029.
Applications submitted previously can be resubmitted to be reconsidered for the next round, if a landowner chooses to do so. There is a $50 deposit required with the submitted application.
Clinton County's Program, similar to 57 other county programs, pays farmland owners for conservation easements to be placed on valuable farmland. The easement purchases the development rights of the land, thus preserving the farmland forever.
Payments in Clinton County have ranged from $1,000 per acre to $2,400 per acre, depending on quality, soils, size and location. A major portion of the funding for this program comes from the state's tobacco tax.
The Clinton County Commissioners also appropriate a significant amount for easement purchases. Since its creation in 1996, there have been easements placed on 30 farms. Three of those farm owners donated the conservation easements, accepting only $1 for their easements.
In this way, the owners are assured that the farmland will remain as farmland for future generations, not to be developed. Conservation Easements are permanent and remain with the property deed whenever it is sold.
The Agriculture Preservation Board consists of seven Board members with several vacancies at this time. Current Chairman is Chuck Bechdel, the Vice-Chair is Michael Champion and directors are Mary Ann Bower, Chris McCracken and Tim Owens. Commissioner Angela Harding serves as a non-voting member.
If you have questions, or need an application form or additional Information, please contact any director or Keith Yearick, Clinton County's Program Administrator, at 570-660-2327 or email clintoncountyagpres@clintoncountypa.gov.
