The Bureau of Agricultural Land Preservation works with the nine member Sterling Raber Agricultural Land Preservation Board of Lehigh County to preserve farmland within Lehigh County. The name of the board was changed at the end of 2009 to honor Sterling Raber, former county commissioner and chairman of the farmland preservation board, for his long-time dedication and commitment to protecting agriculture and rural life in Lehigh County.
Total Acreage The preservation of farmland is accomplished through the purchase of agricultural conservation easements (also known as the purchase of development rights) on eligible Lehigh County farm properties. As of October 24, 2012, the County Board has protected 249 Lehigh County farms covering a total of 20,628 acres with perpetual agricultural conservation easements. Click on the map below for a close-up view.
Funding Decrease Due to significant budget cuts by both the county and the state, the county program has received less funding to purchase development rights. This prompted the County Land Preservation Board to pass a motion to lower the cap to $5,000 per acre beginning January 1, 2012, for all farms selected in the 2012 application round. In addition, the Board voted to limit the increase in easement value from second opinion appraisals to no more than 50% above the original offer.
Community Garden Plots The Lehigh County Garden Plot Program has experienced a major change this year for the gardeners at the Cedarbrook site. The plots were moved to a new location adjacent to the utility garage. All questions and concerns about plot assignments, plot inspections, and general administration of the sites at both Cedarbrook and Jordan Creek Parkway are being handled by a part-time employee at the Farmland Preservation office at the Lehigh County Agricultural Center, 4184 Dorney Park Road, South Whitehall Township. A committee of gardeners from each site will meet periodically to help formulate/refine the rules and to "keep their eyes open" for possible violations and later in the season, to thwart theft of produce.
Lehigh County Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Manual