COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) announced approval for local sponsors to purchase agricultural easements on 58 family farms,

 

representing 8,737 acres in 28 counties. Local sponsoring organizations, which include land trusts, counties and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, receive funding from the Clean Ohio Fund to manage the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LEAPP).

Funding for the state’s farmland preservation efforts is derived from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, which was approved by voters in 2008.

The program purchases ag easements from landowners who volunteer to keep their land in production in perpetuity. The landowner must be able to demonstrate that retaining that farm in agricultural production is compatible with the township’s or county’s community plan and that it is not in the direct path of development.

Landowners in Ohio apply through pre-approved local sponsors using an online application on the ODA website. Each local sponsor receives a portion of the Clean Ohio funds appropriated that year to purchase easements from the highest-scoring applicants in their area. The program is highly competitive, with roughly one in 15 applications being funded.

The landowner may use proceeds from the easement’s sale for any purpose, but most commonly funds are used to purchase additional acreage or equipment, expand farm operations, retire debt, plan for retirement or pay for education.

To be eligible for the program, farms must be larger than 40 acres or next to a preserved farm, be actively engaged in farming, participate in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation (CAUV) program, demonstrate good stewardship of the land, have support from local government and not be in close proximity to development.

Communities wanting to participate next year can apply to be Certified Local Sponsors between August 21-Oct. 13. Sponsors assist landowners interested in selling easements with the application process and easement closing and monitoring, and are ODA’s valued partners in carrying out the Ohio Farmland Preservation program.

From 2002-16, 318 family farms in 58 counties have collectively preserved 55,532 acres in agriculture production. For more about easements in Ohio, go to www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/FarmLand.aspx