2007 News

October 17, 2007

Bucks County Commissioners Celebrate Long-Awaited Milestone: 10,000th Preserved Farm Acre
Bauman Tract in Milford Twp., the County’s 111th Protected Farm, Adds 59 Acres to County Agricultural Land Preservation List

Returning to the site of the Bucks County Agricultural Land Preservation Program’s first property, the 118.7-acre Leonard E. and Elizabeth M. Crooke farm in Buckingham Twp., the Board of Bucks County Commissioners today surpassed a much-anticipated landmark in the county’s agricultural and open-space planning endeavors.

During their regularly scheduled bi-monthly meeting, Commissioners Charles H. Martin, chairman, James F. Cawley, Esq. and Sandra A. Miller unanimously approved a conservation easement to protect the 59.01-acre Scott and Stefanie Bauman farm from future development. The $282,248 county investment also included a $424,872 contribution – or 60 percent of the settlement charges and adjustments – from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The 59 acres lifted the county’s Agricultural Land Preservation total to 10,032 acres, effectively securing the commissioners goal of 10,000 preserved farm acres by the end of 2007.

“I am thrilled to see our goal come to fruition today on the beautiful Crooke farm,” Chairman Martin noted. “It is absolutely fitting that we pay tribute to the true roots of our modern agricultural preservation efforts, even as we cast our attention to the future of our open-space endeavors. This program is about protecting and enhancing quality of life for all Bucks Countians.”

Over the last year, the commissioners have unanimously approved the preservation of 11 farms totaling 991 acres. The properties showcase the geographic diversity that has come to symbolize the program, including farms in Tinicum, Hilltown, Plumstead, Springfield, Wrightstown, Bedminster and Milford townships. The Bauman farm is a crop farm located in the Milford Twp. Agricultural Security Area. Its preservation application was ranked sixth out of 59 applications during 2006. It will add to the 189 farm acres on three farms previously preserved in Milford Twp.

“We want to express our deep appreciation for the members of our farming community who have capitalized on the opportunity to preserve their lands in perpetuity,” Commissioner Cawley said. “The Agricultural Land Preservation Program is a key component of our open-space planning, which also includes more than 2,500 acres of municipal open space, almost 2,500 acres of protected natural areas, and 4,600 acres of parkland.”

Commissioner Miller, who has been a strong advocate for open-space and farmland preservation for the entirety of her county-record, 16-year tenure as commissioner, pointed to the enormous amount of municipal, state and federal funding leveraged by the county’s $59 open-space referendum of May, 1997. Of the $94 million the county has paid to purchase agricultural conservation easements on the 111 farms, $24 million has been paid by county taxpayers, $47.5 million by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and $22.5 million by participating municipalities.

“The county funding for agricultural preservation has been leveraged extremely well, and the results of that expenditure have laid the groundwork for future acquisition and stewardship,” Commissioner Miller said.

For a complete list of the Bucks County farms preserved since the Crooke property was protect in September, 1990, please see the attached spreadsheet. For more information about the Agricultural Land Preservation Program and other county open-space programs, please visit the Open Space/Agricultural Preservation section of the Planning Commission.

ABOUT THE CROOKE FARM, CROOKED ACRES DAIRY
David and Christine Crooke, current owners of Crooked Acres Dairy, took over the ownership of the farm after 20 years as partners with David’s father, Leonard, and his wife, Elizabeth. Originally from urban north Jersey, the Crookes moved to Bucks County in 1948 and became first generation farmers upon moving to the current farm in 1961.

The current herd of 70 registered Holstein dairy cows produced enough milk last year to supply 3,000 people with three glasses of milk per day for the year. The farm also raises 70 head of dairy replacement heifers. The farm includes a comfort stall barn, four silos, a 1,600-gallon bulk tank, eight computerized milking machines, manure storage, and a full line of farm machinery.