Soil district selected to sponsor program

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has selected the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District as a local sponsor for the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP) and will provide more than $300,000 in funding to help preserve farmland in the county.

LAEPP is a voluntary program in which landowners have the opportunity to sell agricultural easements on their land to the state of Ohio. The easement will guarantee the farm is protected and remains in agricultural production permanently. The application round for 2018 opened Jan. 18 and will close April 18. To be eligible, the farm must be 40 acres or more, actively engaged in farming, participate in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation program, demonstrate good stewardship of the land, have the support of their local government and not lie directly in the path of development.

Landowners that are interested in selling an agricultural easement on their farm should contact the district to set up an in-person meeting to discuss their eligibility for the program. For more details, visit the website at WarrenSWCD.com or call 513-695-1337.

Funding for the program is derived from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, approved by voters in 2008. For more information on Ohio’s farmland preservation effort visit: http://www. agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/, call 513-695-2530 or email Kara. Schirmer@co.warren.oh.us.