State agriculture officials have cleared the way for local sponsors to buy agricultural easements on family farms across Auglaize County and 35 other counties, according to an Ohio Department of Agriculture announcement.
The funding comes through the Clean Ohio Fund, which backs the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program. Land trusts, counties, townships and soil and water conservation districts serve as local sponsors and manage the purchases. Under the terms described, easements keep enrolled land in agricultural production permanently.
The department's most recent approval covers 58 family farms totaling 5,165 acres statewide. No county-by-county breakdown was released, and the announcement did not identify which Auglaize County farms are involved or how many acres there are affected.
Owners seeking eligibility must meet several conditions. Parcels have to be larger than 40 acres or sit next to an already preserved farm. Applicants must be actively engaged in farming, be enrolled in the Current Agricultural Use Value program, show sound land stewardship and be located away from pending development.
Additional details on farmland preservation in Ohio are available through the department's website.