Easements and Agriculture

This project will explore specific, technical ways to make easements work for these and similar counties with strong agricultural zoning and smaller, more intensive farms.  The goal of this project is to ensure owners of farmlands with significant conservation values are able to access conservation easements while protecting water and land conservation values even if they have smaller (less than 100 acre) parcels.  The objective is to convene local and national experts to sort out issues and make recommendations to improve agricultural easements while maintaining high quality conservation standards for smaller and more intensively farmed land parcels.  Some specific activities to be undertaken  by this project is to convene a working group of experts for a day-long session on agricultural easements, exploring issues related to water quality impacts, size of buildings, farmstead envelopes, IRS requirements, local program solutions, trends, and applications for Valley counties.  Host a public session as well as smaller gatherings with local land conservation program managers featuring representatives from Lancaster Farmland Trust and/or Lancaster Farmland Preserve Board.