The Ohio Department of Agriculture is inviting Soil & Water Conservation Districts, land trusts, and city, township, and county entities to apply for local sponsor certification for the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program. The application period is open from September 11 to October 13, 2023.
Local sponsors that are certified will be allocated a portion of the funding available in the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program 2024 funds. These funds are used to purchase agricultural easements on Ohio farms, preserving productive agricultural farmland in perpetuity.
An agricultural easement is a legal agreement that limits the development or use of land for agricultural purposes. This can help to protect farmland from being developed into housing, commercial areas, or other uses that would not be compatible with agriculture.
To be certified as a local sponsor, organizations must meet certain requirements, including having a board of directors, a written policy on farmland preservation, and the ability to monitor easements.
Once certified, local sponsors can accept applications from landowners who are interested in selling an agricultural easement on their property. The ODA will review the applications and select the easements that are most eligible for funding.
If you're eager to contribute to this noble cause and have questions or need assistance, the Farmland Preservation Office is there to help. Contact them at 614-728-6238 or email farmlandpres@agri.ohio.gov.
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Categories: Ohio, Sustainable Agriculture