Small Town News

$10 million proposed for farmland preservation

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New funding opens door for program for young farmers

When Gov. Jack Markell introduced his proposed budget in January, it did not include money for farmland preservation. Shortfalls and a slow economy paired to force cuts, including the $5 million usually allotted to the program.

Delaware Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee said the cut put farmland preservation on the back burner for the year. But tax revenues have come in higher than expected, and Markell is now proposing not only restoring the $5 million but increasing funding to $10 million.

With new funding proposed, the Department of Agriculture plans to'start a new program aimed at young farmers. The Delaware Young Farmer Program will utilize $3 million of the funding to help future farmers purchase land.

"This funding represents a great value and opportunity for Delaware and will initiate a new and vital addition to our efforts to provide for local food security and economic growth," Kee said.

"Putting $10 million to land preservation now will yield huge dividends for Delawareans far into the future. By planting these seeds of economic prosperity now, Delaware can reap the benefits for generations to come."

Kee said for the past decade the state has focused on preserving land already in use for agriculture, but now officials are switching gears and focusing on the future of farming in the state.

"The overriding philosophy for years has been to preserve farmland, but now we are looking at the human resource side," Kee said. "It is one thing to preserve the land, but now we have to make sure we have the next generation of farmers to continue the farming tradition."

An event to announce the new

funding line and new program was held May 10 at Fifer Orchards in Camden, where Kee and Markell laid out details of how funds will be allotted to future farmers.

"The money will only help with a portion of the land purchase," Kee said.

"The young farmer will have to help with the purchase as well. It will preserve the farm in farmland preservation once purchased. Either way, the land will be preserved."

BY PLANTING THESE SEEDS OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY NOW, DELAWARE CAN REAP THE BENEFITS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

ED KEE

SECRETARY, DELAWARE DEPARTMENT

OF AGRICULTURE





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