*Shenandoah, Clarke to receive farmland preservation funds

State OKs $1.2 million for farmland preservation

By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

Clarke and Shenandoah counties can continue to save working farmland with more than $200,000 in state grants.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services plans to distribute $1.2 million in farmland preservation grants to 13 localities, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced in a news release issued Tuesday.

The fiscal 2012 allocation includes $110,952 for Clarke County and $105,000 for Shenandoah County, the latter of which received state matching funds for the first time.

Localities must use the money to preserve farmland through purchase of development rights programs. Such programs compensate landowners who permanently preserve their property by voluntarily placing a perpetual conservation easement on it. Clarke and Shenandoah counties are among the state's 22 localities operating programs, 18 of which have had some local funding available in the past few years.

The $1.2 million marks a significant increase from the $100,000 available in matching state funds last year, the release notes. McDonnell's budget proposal submitted in December seeks to continue the $1.2 million in the next two fiscal years for a total of $2.4 million in grant funds for the biennium, according to the release.

Virginia has allocated $6.45 million to certified local preservation programs since February 2008. Nearly 5,200 acres on 36 farms in 11 localities have been permanently protected in part with $4.94 million of these state funds, the release states. Remaining funds over the next two years are expected to close on additional easements, according to the release.

Localities interested in future rounds of grant applications for matching funds should contact the Office of Farmland Preservation, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor St., Richmond VA 23219 or call 804-786-1346. They may also e-mail Kevin Schmidt, the Office of Farmland Preservation Coordinator, at kevin.schmidt@vdacs.virginia.gov.

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