Farmland Preservation program adds 31 properties this year

The Sussex County Farmland Preservation program has had another busy and productive year. As of Dec. 17, 31 farms were closed this year adding about 1,924 acres to the program. This brings the total number of farms preserved to 136 (approximately 14,633 acres). Efforts are under way to close on an additional eight farms by the end of the year. This would add 443 acres to the total and bring the acreage to over 15,000. This program began statewide 26 years ago; Sussex County has been an active participant since the late 1980’s with our first acquisition in 1989. Land has been preserved in 13 of the county’s 24 municipalities. There are currently 26 farms that have final approvals and are working their way toward closings. For the county’s 2009 funding cycle, 10 farms were appraised and landowners will be receiving their certified offers shortly. The program organizers say they are hopeful that through a combination of county and state monies dedicated to non-profits, most of these will be preserved. Sussex County evaluates applications every spring that meet the state criteria for the program. Once an application passes this milestone, it may be selected to be appraised in order to determine the value of the development rights. If a landowner accepts their certified offer, based on the appraisals, then title work and a survey are done for the farm prior to closing. Development rights are sold and the landowner retains ownership of their preserved farmland. That farmland can be sold — but only as a farm. The program also keeps property on the tax rolls as farm assessed land which stays in private ownership. As the bond question this past November was approved by the voters, funds for both Green Acres and Farmland Preservation will bring an influx of state dollars in 2010. Over the last two years, Sussex County has on its own preserved 28 farms with county dollars alone as the prior state funding for this program was expended. For more information on the Sussex County program contact Donna Traylor at dtraylor@sussex.nj.us.