Two farms in western Montgomery County were added to a long list of agricultural land preserved with county funds over the last three decades.
The new parcels now protected from future development are the George E. Leidig Jr. & Eleanor Vallone farm, a 54-acre crop and horse operation in New Hanover and the J. Ladaan & Anne D. Moyer farm, a 50-acre crop farm in Salford.
The farms were preserved through the Montgomery County Agricultural Land Preservation Program, which started in 1990 and has since bought development rights to 157 farms. They total 9,230 acres.
The program purchases partial parcels or entire tracts from active farms. The owner keeps the land, but no longer has the right to develop the property for non-farm uses, the county said.
The land must remain farmed in perpetuity.
“We are pleased to add these two fine farms to our list of preserved farms in Montgomery County,” Montgomery County Commissioners' Chairman Josh Shapiro said. “The farms in our county are vital, offering residents a variety of the healthiest produce and goods available and helping to enhance our economy.”
