9 area farms included in preservation drive

9/29/2010

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Agriculture announced yesterday that nearly 6,200 acres from 37 farms, including nine in northwest Ohio, have been preserved through its agricultural easement purchase program, using money from the Clean Ohio Fund.

This year the Ohio Farmland Preservation Advisory Board reviewed 203 applications from 37 counties competing for the limited money available through the fund. Applicants had the opportunity to earn up to 150 points based on a two-tiered scoring system that took into account factors including development pressure, soils, and proximity to other agricultural land.

In northwest Ohio, farms preserved included three in Fulton County totaling 392 acres, one in Sandusky County totaling 599 acres, and five in Seneca County totaling 450 acres.