A Berks County farm is among 25 across Pennsylvania that will be permanently preserved through a nearly $7.1 million state investment aimed at protecting prime farmland from future development.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced that the State Agricultural Land Preservation Board approved funding to purchase development rights for 1,905 acres in 17 counties. In Berks County, $133,820 was invested to preserve a 44-acre crop and livestock farm owned by Lou W. Gougler in Tilden Township. Of that total, $24,399 came from the state and $109,421 from the county.
By selling development rights through Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program, farm owners ensure their land remains in agricultural production and cannot be sold for residential or commercial development.
“Farmland tells the story of Pennsylvania, of generations who worked the land, cared for its resources, and built communities that endure,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “In this America250 year, and through the 2025–26 budget, the Shapiro Administration is honoring that legacy by protecting our land, water, and soil, supporting the next generation of farmers, and investing in the innovation and infrastructure that will sustain Pennsylvania agriculture for generations to come.”
Statewide, the $7,084,937 investment preserves farms in Adams, Beaver, Berks, Butler, Carbon, Centre, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Northampton, Schuylkill, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties.
Pennsylvania has long been a national leader in farmland preservation. Since voters created the program in 1988, the state has protected 6,673 farms and 662,940 acres in 58 counties, investing more than $1.84 billion in state, county, and local funds.
In 2025 alone, Pennsylvania preserved 167 farms totaling 14,147 acres, with more than $50.1 million invested through joint state and local efforts.
According to the administration, agriculture remains a key part of the Commonwealth’s economy, with nearly 49,000 farms contributing $132.5 billion and supporting almost 600,000 jobs statewide.
