HAGERSTOWN – Washington County has added a 245.86-acre farm to its vast array of preserved agricultural land, according to the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning.
The farm is on Ringgold Pike in Hagerstown. This achievement, made possible through funding from the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation and Washington County, adds to the more than 41,000 acres of permanently preserved land in the county.
This preserved property is a significant dairy and crop operation located north of Smithsburg, county officials said. The easement enhances an already substantial block of preserved land in the area, supporting ongoing efforts to protect agricultural resources and encouraging neighboring property owners to pursue permanent easements.
The Maryland preservation program is the county’s leading land preservation tool, accounting for more than 16,000 acres, or 39 percent, of the county’s permanent easements. The program is funded and administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture and locally managed by the Land Preservation Office of the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning.
The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program focuses on safeguarding productive farmland, ensuring the county’s agricultural future, county officials added. This easement was part of the fiscal year 2023 cycle and marks the sixth property from that cycle to settle. Farmers may apply annually, with applications due by July 1, and offers typically extended the following March.
In addition to the Maryland preservation program, Washington County implements a diverse range of land preservation initiatives, including the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Rural Legacy Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Project Open Space Stateside programs and the County’s Installment Purchase Program. Other partners include the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation, Maryland Environmental Trust, Antietam Battlefield Trust, and Mid-Maryland Land Trust, among others.
While state funding forms the foundation of these efforts, Washington County has significantly increased its financial contributions to bolster these programs in recent years, county officials said.
To learn more about land preservation programs in Washington County, please contact Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, at 240-313-2447 or via email at [email protected].
