Departments

Community Services

Bucks County Planning Commission

Agricultural Land Preservation Program

Established in 1988, the Bucks County Agricultural Land Preservation Program is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Farmland Preservation and governed by Pennsylvania Act 43 as well as county program guidelines. The program utilizes funds from state, county, and local governments to purchase conservation easements on productive farmland. Farms considered for preservation are prioritized according to soil quality, location, conservation practices, and threat of development.

In 2006, Bucks County celebrated the preservation of its 100th farm and met its original goal of protecting 10,000 acres the following year.  Today, the number of acres preserved through programs totals more than 12,000.  Bucks County is home to 934 farms comprising 75,883 acres and ranks 18th out of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties in agricultural production and generates over $70 million in agricultural products each year.  In addition to supporting the local economy, preservation of farmland provides a sense of identity. The open fields, grazing livestock, and historic barns represent our history and will forever continue to define the character of Bucks County. 

If you are a landowner interested in exploring the option of protecting their farm, please contact the Bucks County Agricultural Land Preservation Program.  Applications are accepted each year prior to December 31. 

BCALPP Guidelines  -   Application  -   Annual Report  -  Board

Contact:
Richard Harvey
Director
Agricultural Land Preservation Program
1260 Almshouse Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 345-3400
rbharvey@co.bucks.pa.us