Montco 2040:
a shared vision
51
...increase the amount of preserved farmland.
As of early 2014, the county had preserved about 8,600 acres of farmland on 146 farms through its farmland preservation
program. According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, the county has 596 farms on 30,780 acres, which leaves many
opportunities for more farm preservation.
The county expects to continue preserving farms through the state farmland preservation program. The goal is to preserve at
least 6,000 more acres on 100 more farms by 2040, for a total of 14,600 acres and 246 farms by 2040.
The county will work with partners, such as the Penn State Extension service, the Conservation District, and land conservancies,
to provide technical assistance to farmers to keep their farms viable. There is a great opportunity in the county for farmers to meet
the demand of the Philadelphia area market for locally produced goods, especially organic vegetables and meat products.
Local municipalities can support farming by easily allowing farm stands, encouraging compatible development in farming
areas, encouraging farmers’ markets, preserving farms, and respecting the right of farmers to farm.
■■ Increase in total acreage of
preserved farms
■■ More preserved farms
Measuring success
¯
Pottstown
Norristown
Lansdale
Collegeville
Jenkintown
Conshohocken
§¨
¦
476
§¨
¦
276
§¨
¦
76
§¨
¦
476
£
¤
422
£
¤
202
611
100
309
Hatboro
Ambler
Pennsburg
73
663
29
29
73
Significant Farmland Area
Preserved Farms
Rural Resource Areas
FARM PRESERVATION AREAS
6,000 more acres
of farmland will be
preserved by 2040
