Westminster, June 18, 2024 —The Carroll County Agricultural Land Preservation Program is beginning a new application cycle and will be accepting applications from July 1st through August 30, 2024. The County has budgeted $1 million for fiscal year 2025, according to Program Manager J.P. Smith, Jr.

Owners of at least 30 acres of farm or forestland with development potential may apply.  Farms with more than 60 acres will be ranked higher in a ranking process that includes soil quality and other important factors.

The Carroll County Agriculture Land Preservation Program is one of four programs that the Office manages.  If property owners are interested in being paid to preserve their farm, please reach out to the Office to discuss program options.  Each property that completes the preservation process is restricted to agricultural use in perpetuity by a Deed of Conservation Easement recorded in the Carroll County Land Records.  These programs help preserve valuable agricultural lands that are the foundation of our agricultural industry while compensating landowners for the potential development value of the property.

Carroll County’s farmland preservation program ranks in the top five most successful programs in the United States and is the number one program in the State of Maryland. The County has a long-standing goal of preserving 100,000 acres and nearly 80,000 acres have been preserved since farmland protection efforts began in 1980.

Interested landowners can contact staff at 410 386-2214 to discuss program options and arrange to get an application by mail or they can obtain an application on the County website.