Did you know?

Programs currently exist that protect public interest in agricultural land conservation.

Many of these programs grew out of a broad desire to keep farmlands from eventually falling into the hands of real estate developers. Programs such as Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) Program, which originated in New York state, are now available throughout the country.

Under the PACE program, which is entirely voluntary, property owners are compensated by the government for restricting the future use of their land. Essentially, this guarantees developers won’t be given the opportunity to purchase the land, once a farmer passes away or decides to retire, and build homes or businesses on this open stretch of property.

While this may seem as though the farmer is relinquishing ownership of the land, farmers still retain nearly all rights of ownership, including the right to farm the land, prevent trespassing and even sell or bequeath the land.

The payment is often a one-time sum that is usually paid shortly after the farmer agrees to program participation — though many programs, since they’re still in the infant stages, have struggled to get farmers their payments in a timely fashion. The payments, too, should act as compensation for the drastic reduction in resale value of the land that occurs once a property is considered “preserved.”