37 Farms Selected for Preservation Through Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Progr
Posted on November 17th, 2009
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (Nov. 13, 2009) – Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs announce that more than 6,279 acres from 37 farms will be preserved through the department’s Agricultural Easement Purchase Program, using the first of four installments from the renewed Clean Ohio Fund. The Clean Ohio Fund bond initiative won support from Ohio’s voters last November to preserve farmland and green space, improve outdoor recreation and to encourage redevelopment and revitalize communities by cleaning up brownfields.
"Ohioans have proven that preserving our state’s farmland and green space is important by their consistent support of the Clean Ohio Fund,” said Strickland. "The Agricultural Easement Purchase Program helps sustain our important agricultural industry and ensure that Ohioans are able to enjoy and utilize our state’s valuable land for generations to come.”
This year, the Ohio Farmland Preservation Advisory Board reviewed 205 applications from 40 counties competing for the limited money available through the Clean Ohio Fund. Applicants had the opportunity to earn up to 150 points based on a two-tiered scoring system. Section one of the application focused on development pressure, soils, proximity to other agricultural land, use of best management practices and local comprehensive land-use plans. Section two included narrative questions regarding the farm and its unique appeal to the Agricultural Easement Purchase Program.
The following is a list of landowners selected to receive Clean Ohio funds, pending completion of a legal review, title search and any necessary review of third party interests:
Landowner Name (Farm Acreage, County)
Ashland County
(Landowner, Farm Acreage)
Ayers 211.68
Fulk 128.20
Nolt 107.84
Smith, Denny 113.56
Yeater 67.48
Ashtabula County
Brtitton 328.28
Waris 201.62
Champaign County
Morgan 365.80
Clark County
Trotter 604.59
Fairfield County
Koehler 131.38
Wolfe 207.58
Fulton County
Borton 122.70
Dennis 105.96
Saul 73.24
Tedrow 144.53
Gallia County
Glassburn 231.29
Henry County
Lane 79.20
Huron
Smith, Brian 137.48
Knox
Mickley 381.00
Lake County
Broadwater 80.05
Licking
Butler 173.44
Deering 160.50
Hughes 225.22
Logan County
Winner 266.44
Madison County
Hunter 147.81
Montgomery County
Crowe 326.95
Portage County
Groselle 60.00
Mackenzie 29.40
Rodenbucher 49.78
Sampson III 61.67
Preble County
Grimme 171.12
Voge 146.92
Seneca County
Burks 146.40
Carrigan 125.87
Dysard 165.21
Wayne County
Douce 77.26
Mann 160.00
"Preserving farmland is crucial to maintaining and supporting the social, economic and environmental benefits the agriculture industry provides to all Ohioans,” said Boggs. "Since its inception in 2002, the Clean Ohio Fund has allowed the department to preserve more than 33,000 acres of valuable farmland through the Agricultural Easement Purchase Program.”
An agricultural easement is a voluntary and legally-binding restriction placed on a farm. The easement limits the use of the land to predominantly agricultural activity. The land remains under private ownership and management and stays on the tax rolls under Current Agricultural Use Valuation (CAUV). The farmland can be sold or passed along as a gift to others at any time, but the restriction prohibiting non-agricultural development stays with the land.
For more information about farmland preservation, visit www.agri.ohio.gov.
