Funding to help preserve farmland

Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District announced it has received funding from the Ohio Department of Agriculture to preserve farmland in Lake County in 2018 through the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program.

Funding for the program is derived from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, approved by voters in 2008, and used to purchase agricultural easements from willing sellers through a competitive process, according to a news release.

The program allows landowners to voluntarily sell easements on their farms to the State of Ohio.

The easement requires the farm remain permanently in agricultural production. Selected farms must be more than 40 acres, actively engaged in farming, participate in the Current Agricultural Use Valuation and Agricultural District programs, demonstrate good stewardship of the land and not be in close proximity to development, the release stated.

Landowners may use the proceeds of the easement in any way they wish, but most reinvest it in their farm operation. A small farm exception enables landowners with less than 40 acres to apply if they are adjacent to other permanently protected properties, the release stated.

The 2018 application period opens Jan. 18 and will close March 30. Interested landowners should contact Lake SWCD to make an application.

If the applicant farm is not currently enrolled in the CAUV or Ag District programs, the landowner must make an application with the Lake County Auditor before the first Monday in March.

For more information contact Maurine Orndorff at the Lake SWCD office, 440-3505863, or morndorff@ lakecountyohio.gov. Information can also be found on the Ohio Department of Agriculture website at http://bit. ly/2l2Kx6C.