Farmland Preservation

PLEASE NOTE: Butler County's Agricultural Land Preservation Program application period has been changed and applications for all calendar years will now be accepted in the preceding December.

Applications for Butler County's 2026 funding round for the competitive Agricultural Land Preservation Program will be accepted from December 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.

The Office of Farmland Preservation assists the Butler County Agricultural Land Preservation Board in its efforts to promote the preservation of viable agricultural land in Butler County. This is accomplished through the Butler County Agricultural Land Preservation Program and when possible, by cooperating with other entities with similar goals.

It is the purpose of this program to protect viable agricultural lands by acquiring agricultural conservation easements which prevent the development or improvement of the land for any purpose other than agricultural production and related agricultural activities. Further, it is the purpose of this program to:

• Encourage landowners to make a long-term commitment to agriculture by offering them financial incentives and security of land use.
• Protect normal farming operations in agricultural security areas from incompatible non-farm land uses that may render farming impractical.
• Protect normal farming operations from complaints of public nuisance against normal farming operations.
• Assure conservation of viable agricultural lands in order to protect the agricultural economy of this Commonwealth.
• Provide compensation to landowners in exchange for their relinquishment of the right to develop their private property. Maximize agricultural conservation easement purchase funds and protect the investment of taxpayers in agricultural conservation easements.

Agricultural Land Preservation Board

View the Agricultural Land Preservation Board 2024 Annual Report here: 2024 Annual Report (pdf)

View old Agricultural Land Preservation Board Minutes. For more recent and current agendas and minutes, please visit the Agendas and Minutes Center here: Recent Agendas and Minutes

View a Map of Butler County's Preserved Farms Preserved Farms (pdf)

Current Board Members: