By Andi Anderson
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is reinforcing the state's food and agriculture sector by allocating funds to preserve farmland. The initiative extends support to nine land trusts, seven counties or townships, and 25 Soil and Water Conservation Districts. These entities will receive financial assistance from the Clean Ohio Fund to secure, finalize, and supervise easements under the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP).
Landowners keen on preserving agricultural easements on their properties can submit applications through their LAEPP sponsor organization. This funding round allocates a total of $6 million, accessible through certified local sponsors across 51 counties. Interested landowners should connect with the designated sponsor in their county for application procedures.
The program enables landowners to willingly sell easements on their farms to the state of Ohio. To qualify, selected farms must encompass a minimum of 40 acres, actively engage in farming, participate in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation program, exhibit responsible land stewardship, receive local government backing, and avoid direct development paths. Proceeds from easement sales can be utilized at the landowners' discretion, often reinvested into their farming activities.
Funding for this program originates from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, authorized by voters in 2008. Collectively, with easements from various programs, 704 family farms across 62 counties have safeguarded over 105,000 acres dedicated to agricultural production.
Photo Credit: istock-oticki
Categories: Ohio, Government & Policy