Summary
Three more farms were permanently preserved in Salisbury, Penn, and Fulton Townships, but new applications dropped to just five this year versus a typical 20. Over 150 landowners are still on the waiting list.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 15
- Last 30 days
- 2
Discussed at 3 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 28, 2026.
Impact analysis
About $482,000 in combined county and state funds, with landowners taking deep bargain-sale discounts.
Farm families selling easements and everyone who values the county's open farmland.
Mentions & discussions (15)
County Commissioners Public Meetings - Oct 28, 2026
Three more farms were permanently preserved in Salisbury, Penn, and Fulton Townships, but new applications dropped to just five this year versus a typical 20. Over 150 landowners are still on the waiting list.
County Commissioners Work Sessions - Oct 6, 2026
Two young farm couples are getting low-cost financing to buy their family farms — one preserved 80-acre dairy farm in Drumore and one 77-acre beef farm in Strasburg. It keeps farmland in production and helps the next generation take over.
County Commissioners Public Meetings - Sep 9, 2026
52 acres of the Stoltzfus family farm will be permanently preserved from development, fully funded by the state at $208,520. The family waited nearly ten years and accepted a bargain sale worth less than half the preservation value.
County Commissioners Public Meetings - Jul 29, 2026
The county preserved another farm in East Cocalico Township, but officials flagged a trend: farmland prices have skyrocketed since 2021, with some farms selling for $50,000 an acre. Almost every preservation deal now requires a bargain sale from the landowner, and buyers with non-farm money are increasingly competing for land.
County Commissioners Work Sessions - Jul 28, 2026
A nearly 60-acre East Cocalico farm would be preserved through a state-funded easement at the $4,000-per-acre cap, aided by the owners' 80% bargain sale. The county has now preserved 1,114 farms on more than 91,000 acres.
County Commissioners Public Meetings - Jul 8, 2026
The county is locking in development rights on four farms across West Cocalico, West Lampeter, East Earl/Caernarvon and Martic townships — about 324 acres — using entirely state money. The county's farmland preservation program has now protected 1,685 farms and nearly 126,000 acres.
County Commissioners Work Sessions - Jul 7, 2026
Four farms in West Cocalico, West Lampeter, East Earl/Caernarvon, and Martic townships are slated for permanent agricultural conservation easements, all paid for with about $1.3 million in state funding. Rising land values mean every landowner is accepting a bargain sale below appraised value, stretching preservation dollars.
County Commissioners Public Meetings - Jun 24, 2026
Two more farms — 41 acres in East Donegal and nearly 39 acres in Upper Leacock — will be permanently preserved, both fully state-funded with landowners accepting bargain-sale discounts. The county has now preserved 1,112 farms on nearly 91,000 acres through the Ag Preserve Board.
County Commissioners Work Sessions - Jun 23, 2026
Two more farms totaling 80 acres will be preserved with conservation easements, with landowners accepting 65-80% of appraised value — stretching preservation dollars further.
County Commissioners Public Meetings - Jun 10, 2026
Two more Lancaster County farms — nearly 130 acres combined — will be permanently protected from development through conservation easements, with most costs covered by state matching funds and a generous bargain sale from one family.
County Commissioners Work Sessions - Jun 9, 2026
Two family farms that waited 15 years on the preservation waiting list are up for conservation easements — one funded by the county, one entirely by the state. Both farmers gave significant discounts to get it done.
County Commissioners Public Meetings - May 6, 2026
The county is permanently preserving a 10.5-acre East Drumore farm for $42,040, with the family accepting a 48% bargain sale. Commissioners flagged that state law's ten-acre minimum nearly blocked this preservation and are pushing legislators to change it.
County Commissioners Public Meetings - Feb 18, 2026
Another 48 acres of East Lampeter farmland will be permanently preserved, joining a cluster of preserved farms near the West Lampeter border. The county's share is zero — the state pays the full $193,400.
County Commissioners Work Sessions - Feb 17, 2026
Lancaster County is pulling in over $3.3 million in state farmland preservation money this year, second only to Chester County, and the 48-acre Denlinger farm is being preserved at no county cost.
County Commissioners Public Meetings - Jan 28, 2026
The county committed $1.7 million to preserve farms, which should bring roughly $3 million back in state matching funds. Lancaster leads the nation in farmland preservation, and demand stays high with about 40 farms on the waiting list.
Related development
Esch Farm Purchase – Next Generation Farm Loan
Keeps a large farm in agricultural production with a new chicken operation; farm is not preserved.
Weiler Farm Conservation Easement (2025-010)
Permanently protects about 90 acres of farmland straddling the East Earl/Caernarvon township line.
Huber Farm Conservation Easement (2025-001)
Permanently protects about 48 acres of farmland in Martic Township, next to two already-preserved farms.
Martin Farm Conservation Easement (2025-006)
Permanently protects about 61 acres of farmland in West Lampeter Township.
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