Farmland saved in Lebanon

Governor Rell Announces State Preserving More Than 200 Acres of Farmland in Lebanon

07/28/2009 - Scanlon, Major Farms Among 6 Acquired for Preservation

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state is completing the acquisition of development rights of two farms in Lebanon, assuring that more than 200 acres will be preserved for agricultural use.
The Governor said $702,600 to acquire the rights to the Scanlon Farm and $383,200 for the Major Farm were approved by the State Bond Commission in December 2008 and the funds are now being released to complete the purchase.

“Some of the most beautiful and productive farmland in the state is in Lebanon. This is valuable farmland the state and the town cannot afford to lose,” Governor Rell said. “My administration is committed to doing all we can to support a viable agricultural community, one that accounts for $2 billion of our economy.”

The Scanlon Farm acquisition includes 117.1 acres along Kick Hill Road. The Major Farm includes 95.8 acres near Old Route 2 and Camp Moween Road.

The State’s Farmland Preservation Program, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, buys development rights to farms – placing a permanent restriction on the use of the land. The land can never be used for non-agricultural purposes and farms will stay under private ownership and continue to pay local property taxes.

The other four farms include:
• 164.9 acres – River Bend Farm, Suffield/Granby. $1.4 million;
• 82 acres – Cella Farm, Wallingford. $1.2 million;
• 149.8 acres – Weigold Farm, Torrington. $674,190;
• 82 acres – Kuss Farm, Woodbury. $575,000.

The goal of the program is to preserve 130,000 acres of farmland with 85,000 acres dedicated to growing crop. The state preserved its first farm in 1979. Since then, the state has preserved more than 34,500 acres on 254 farms.

Most of the land preserved is considered prime farmland. In many cases, the state attempts to preserve land contiguous or clustered near other farmland to create a stable farming community. Farmland preservation also results in many environmental benefits by conserving key wildlife habitat and providing flood control in certain areas.