HAGERSTOWN – Washington County has preserved a small farm in Smithsburg, adding to the nearly 43,000 acres of land protected from development in perpetuity and bringing it closer to its 50,000-acre long-term conservation goal.
The county’s planning and zoning division announced the deal this week, which involved settling a conservation easement on the 15.22-acre crop farm on Itnyre Road.
Funding came from the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation through its Small Acreage Next Generation Farmland Acquisition program. The move helps maintain continuous agricultural land in the area and encourages neighboring property owners to seek their own permanent protections.
The corporation’s Farmland Acquisition program and its larger Next Generation Farmland Acquisition program have operated in Washington County for the past six years, aiding first-time farm buyers in purchasing land.
These state-funded initiatives, managed locally by the county’s land preservation office, target new farmers who have not owned more than 20 contiguous acres before. Applicants need a property under contract or nearly ready for an offer when applying.
The process typically takes about six months, and the corporation may cover up to 51% of the land’s fair market value as a down payment to make ownership more feasible. Applications are accepted year-round.
Washington County’s preservation efforts date back to 1978, when it joined the state Agricultural Land Preservation program to protect farmland from urban sprawl and ensure ongoing food and fiber production for the state.
The county aims to safeguard 50,000 acres of agricultural land and open space overall, driven by goals to curb development that erodes natural resources, bolster the local economy through farming, forestry, recreation, and tourism, and preserve rural landscapes with historical and cultural value.
More than 42,000 acres are now permanently protected, with another 33,000 under temporary 10-year agricultural districts that offer tax credits and protections against nuisance complaints.
Beyond the corporation’s programs, the county taps into state efforts like the Agricultural Land Preservation program, which has conserved over 17,000 acres locally by buying development rights on high-value farms based on soil quality and location.
It also participates in the Department of Natural Resources’ Rural Legacy program for areas at risk of sprawl, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement program to make federal contracts permanent, and the Open Space program. The county runs an installment purchase program to expedite easement purchases and supports forest conservation easements.
Federal options include the Farm and Ranchland Protection program and scenic easements, while partnerships with groups such as the Maryland Environmental Trust, Antietam Battlefield Trust, and Mid-Maryland Land Trust add additional layers of protection.
State programs have long supplied most funding, but the county has increasingly added local dollars in recent years to sustain these initiatives. The Farmland Acquisition program, an offshoot of the broader Next Generation effort, emerged around 2023 as a targeted way to help with smaller properties of 10 to 49 acres, providing 40% to 60% of fair market value in exchange for immediate, permanent easements.
While not entirely new funding, it draws on existing state resources through the corporation and expands options for small-scale preservation, potentially opening the door to similar targeted aid in future county efforts.
