HAGERSTOWN – Washington County has preserved two additional farms totaling 99.81 acres through a state program aimed at helping new farmers, officials announced Tuesday, elevating the county’s permanently protected land to past 43,000 acres and reinforcing its commitment to maintaining the rural flavor and environmental integrity amid ongoing development pressures.
The easements, sealed early this year, cover a 45.08-acre property on Little Antietam Road in Hagerstown and a 54.73-acre farm on Wolfsville Road in Smithsburg. Both sites blend productive farmland with forested sections and natural resources, helping to knit together larger swaths of conserved land while inspiring adjacent owners to seek similar protections, representatives of the county’s Division of Planning & Zoning said.
The additions not only bolster agricultural viability but also preserve the scenic, open landscapes that define Washington County’s rural character, supporting biodiversity, water quality and outdoor recreation opportunities that are vital to the local environment and economy.
The two preservation projects were facilitated by the Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industries Development Corporation Next Generation Farmland Acquisition Program, which has been operational in the county since 2019.
Tailored for aspiring first-time farmers who’ve never owned more than 20 contiguous acres, the initiative requires properties to qualify for the county’s Agricultural Land Preservation District, including rural zoning, exclusion from growth areas and at least half the soil rated as prime Class I, II or III.
Under the competitive monthly process, successful applicants can receive up to 51% of the land’s appraised value, up to $500,000, to help with purchasing.
In exchange, buyers must secure a permanent easement via another program and repay program keeping any surplus funds. This Next Gen effort integrates into Washington County’s multifaceted land preservation blueprint, designed to shield agricultural, scenic, historic and ecologically sensitive areas.
Complementary initiatives encompass the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Rural Legacy Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and Program Open Space–Stateside; the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation; the county’s Installment Purchase Program; local forest conservation easements; federal programs like the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program and Federal Scenic Easements; and collaborations with groups such as the Maryland Environmental Trust, Antietam Battlefield Trust and Mid-Maryland Land Trust.
Although state funding drives much of the progress, the county has intensified its own investments lately to accelerate conservation and ensure long-term resilience against urban sprawl.
The new easements extend a string of recent victories that underscore Washington County’s momentum toward its ambitious target of 50,000 protected acres, a milestone that would further entrench the area’s agrarian roots, economic stability through farming and environmental safeguards.
They follow closely on a 202-acre mostly wooded farm near Williamsport preserved last month via the Rural Legacy Program, which itself was built on a small farm in Smithsburg preserved in January, a 130-acre property in Clear Spring from December and a 50-acre site in Williamsport from November, with each step curbing haphazard development while enhancing green corridors for wildlife and community enjoyment.
