Beaver County Farmland Preservation

02/08/2022

Beaver County Agricultural Land Preservation Board Agenda
February 09,2022 at 9:00 a.m.
The regular monthly meeting of the Beaver County Agricultural Land Preservation Board, 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 09, 2022 in the Beaver County Planning Commission Conference Room in the basement of the Beaver County Courthouse, 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009.
Roll Call
Visitors
Motion to approve Minutes of January 19, 2021 meeting
Motion to approve Treasurers Report February 09, 2022
Motion to approve bills of February 09, 2022.
Motion to approve bills previously paid since January 19, 2022
Public and Board Comment
OLD BUSINESS-Administrator Nicole Shepard
Abels Farm
Haffey Farm #2
Weltner Farm
Douthitt Farm
Steffler Homestead LLC
Swick Farm
Stidmon Farm
-ARP 2022 Budget Review
a. Approval to open a separate bank account for the ARP funds, once received.
b. Approval to purchase, using ARP funds; Lesa Computer Program, Laptop Computer, Printer (all-in-one), Cell Phone with Unlimited Data Plan, all that was previously discussed.
-Premiere Bank Services update
-Pennsylvania 2021 Ethics Form – As a reminder, please complete in its entirety and return to the ALPB office or Bureau of Elections office, no later than May 01, 2022.
NEW BUSINESS
-Approval for Administrator Nicole Shepard to attend the 2022 Spring PFPA Conference in Gettysburg, March 14, 2022 – March 16, 2022. Including conference registration/hotel accommodations/car rental/meals, for approximately two days.
-Ranking of Farms 2022
a. Approval to accept Fischer’s Windy Ridge Amended Application
b. Approval of 2022 Ranking List
-Certification of County Funds, for the 2022 Program Year, completed and sent 01/28/2022.
Announcements
Upcoming County Board Meeting-March 16, 2022
Upcoming State Board Meeting -February 10,2022
MOTION TO ADJOURN

01/26/2022

01/26/2022

Want to learn how you can $reduce$ your stormwater fee....?

New Sewickley MS4 Stormwater
Outreach & Training Meeting Thursday February 17, 2022 @ 6:30

Presented By: New Sewickley Township & Beaver County Conservation District

Got Stormwater?

01/18/2022

Beaver County ALPB Meeting 01/19/22 Agenda

Roll Call
Visitors
Motion to approve Minutes of December 8,2021 meeting.
Motion to approve Treasurers Report January 19,2022
Motion to approve Treasurers Report January 19,2022
Motion to approve bills of January 19, 2022
Motion to approve bills previously paid since December 8. 2021
Public and Board Comment

OLD BUSINESS-Administrator Nicole Shepard
Abels Farm
Haffey Farm #2
Weltner Farm
Douthitt Farm
Steffler Homestead LLC
Swick Farm- Motion to send the Swick farm for Appraisal by Mr. Ron Benson in the amount of $$$ for the completed Appraisal.
Stidmon Farm- Motion to send the Stidmon farm for Appraisal by Mr. Ron Benson in the amount of $$$ for the completed Appraisal.

ARP Budget 2022 Review
Premiere Bank Services update

NEW BUSINESS

Pennsylvania 2021 Ethics Form – Please complete in its entirety, and return to ALPB office or Bureau of Elections office. The form is considered deficient if any block is not completed, or if signature & date are missing. Due date 05/01/2022

Approval of New Applications received for 2022.

Approval to round-out (less than $1,000.00) the total County monies received from 2022 Clean & Green Rollback, Savings account funds earmarked Clean & Green 2022 and 2021 accrued interest.

Announcements

Upcoming County Board Meeting-February 9,2022 (9:00 am)
Upcoming State Board Meeting -February 10,2022

MOTION TO ADJOURN

12/28/2021

*Reminder*
2022 Ag. Easement Application Submission Deadline is approaching. Must be postmarked no later than 12/31/21.

Thank You

12/15/2021

https://youtu.be/ifAmQybESUM

This video by AFT's Farmland Information Center explains how to use the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's online Web Soil Survey.

12/06/2021

Beaver County Agricultural Land Preservation Board
Agenda
December 8, 2021
The regular monthly meeting of the Beaver County Agricultural Land Preservation Board, 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 8, 2021, in the Beaver County Planning Commission Conference Room in the basement of the Beaver County Courthouse, 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009.

Roll Call
Visitors
Motion to approve Minutes of October 20, 2021 meeting.
Motion to approve Treasurers Report October 20, 2021.
Motion to approve Treasurers Report December 8, 2021.
Motion to approve payment of Bills for December 8, 2021.
Public and Board Comment

OLD BUSINESS-Administrator Nicole Shepard
Abels Farm
Caldwell Farm #2
Haffey Farm #2
Weltner Farm
Douthitt Farm
Steffler Homestead LLC
a. Approval to have the Steffler Homestead LLC. Farm surveyed by Scott Carton in the amount of $5,000.00

Farm City Banquet November 17, 2022

Budget 2022 Review

Administrator 90 Day Review
a. Approval to increase hours.
b. Approval to increase hourly wage.

NEW BUSINESS

a) Approval to send letter of Interest to Applicants; #2 located in North Sewickley Township, acreage offered 95.6 and #3 located in Darlington Township, acreage offered 82.12 as listed on the 2021 Ranking (March 17,2021). This letter will determine if the applicant is willing to move forward in having their Farm Appraised at this time. Nicole will send each applicant a letter for Authorization to be signed. The Farm owner will sign the letter and submit an additional $500.00 Check to assist with the cost of appraisal.

Premiere Bank Credit Card
a) Approval to add Nicole Shepard to Premiere Bank Checking, and authorize Nicole Shepard to apply for a credit card at Premiere with a specified credit limit under the ALPB Account.

Announcements

Future County Board Meeting-January 19,2022
Future State Board Meeting -February 10,2022

MOTION TO ADJOURN

12/03/2021

USDA Announces Funding for Forest Easements in Targeted Counties Farmers.gov sent this bulletin at 12/01/2021 10:11 AM EST View as a webpage / Share December 1, 2021 USDA Announces Funding for Forest Easements in Targeted Counties The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Pennsylvani...

11/18/2021

We at the Beaver County ALPB would like to say Thank You to everyone who helped make the 65th Annual Farm-City Banquet a success! To witness the true generosity and hard work of our local agricultural community was wonderful!

10/20/2021

Beaver County ALPB Agenda October 20,2021

Call to Order
Roll Call
Visitors
Motion to approve Minutes of September 15,2021 Meeting
Motion to approve Treasurers Report October 20, 2021
Motion to approve payment of Bills.
Motion to approve 2022 Annual Dues for Pa Beaver/Lawrence Farm Bureau in the amount of $100.00.
Motion to approve Chairman Spiker and Vice-Chair Weltner to authorize Administrator hours on a bi-weekly basis for payroll.
Motion to approve payment of $15.00 for each ALPB Member to attend Farm-City Banquet November 17, 2021.
Motion to approve the purchase of a Laptop/Tablet for the office not to exceed $2,500.00.
Public and Board Comment
OLD BUSINESS
Abels Farm
Caldwell Farm
Haffey Farm
Weltner Farm
Douthitt Farm
a. Approval to send Douthitt Farm to Attorney Rackley office for Title & Mineral search.
Steffler Homestead LLC
a. Approval to accept Steffler Homestead LLC. Appraisal and present Appraisal to Steffler Homestead LLC.
Farm City Banquet November 17, 202
a. Approval to purchase Plaque to honor Joe Petrella not to exceed $75.00.
Budget 2022

NEW BUSINESS
Motion to approve Meetings for 2022-January 19; February 16; March 16; April 20; June 15; August 17; September 21; October 19; and December 14, 2022. No Meeting the months of May, July, and November 2022. All meeting held the 3rd Wednesday at 7pm, in the Planning Commission Conference Room located in the Beaver County Courthouse. The January 19, 2022 meeting will be at 9am.
Administrator Report
Correspondence 1) Invitation to participate in County wide “Organization food meeting” with local farmers from Daniel Rossi Keen/Riverwise via Zoom Friday, November 19th at 9am.
2) Membership renewal for American Farmland Trust.
Public and Board Comments
Announcements

Next County Board Meeting-December 15,2021
Next State Board Meeting -December 16,2021

MOTION TO ADJOURN

10/18/2021

Pennsylvania Preserves 21 Farms, 1,999 Acres
Safeguarded from Future Development

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania protected 1,999 acres on 21 farms in 13 counties today through the state’s nation-leading Farmland Preservation Program. Since 1988, the program has purchased permanent conservation easements on 5,949 Pennsylvania farms, covering 603,646 acres, in 58 counties, ensuring they will remain farms in the future.
"Farmland preservation provides a secure pathway for future generations to succeed,” said Secretary Redding. “It ensures future agriculturalists have land to farm, and in return, consumers will have food on the table. Once farmland goes out of production, it rarely comes back, which is why farmland preservation is so important.”
The 21 farms preserved today are in Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Erie, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton, Tioga, Union and York counties.
These farms include produce, crop and livestock operations.
Today's purchases include:

The Donald G. and Jane E. Dillner farm, a fourth-generation 79.35-acre fruit, vegetable and livestock operation located in West Deer Township, Allegheny County. Dillner Family Farms operates a community supported agriculture (CSA) program and farm market, providing fresh produce, eggs and meats to the Greater Pittsburgh area year-round.
The Samuel Valone farm, a 45.39-acre vineyard located in North East Township, Erie County. The farm is in Erie County’s grape and wine region next to two preserved vineyards, adding to a total of 3,246 acres of protected farmland in North East township.
The AgKam LLC farm, a 160.12-acre beef operation located in Charleston Township, Tioga County. The farm is located outside of Wellsboro near the gateway to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and Scenic Route 6. Farmland in this scenic area is at risk of conversion to vacation homes and secondary residences.
Farms preserved and dollars invested, by county:
Allegheny County – total investment - $661,270.00, state only
The Donald G. & Jane E. Dillner farm, a 79-acre crop and livestock operation
Beaver County – total investment - $171,252.10state; $52,400 county
The Raymond Abels farm #1, a 52-acre crop operation
Berks County – total investment - $350,950.09 state; $132,150 county
The Andrew F. Dech farm, a 73-acre crop farm
The Aaron H. & Edna W. Hoover farm, a 103-acre crop and livestock operation
Bucks County – total investment $2,364,089.30 state; $397,535.70 county
Millett Holdings II, LLC farm, a 244-acre crop operation
Chester County – total investment $18,861.94 state, $497,728.17 county
The Mark A. & Claudia V. Cole farm, a 42-acre crop and livestock operation
The Leila & Sander Lehrer farm, a 56-acre crop operation
Cumberland County – total investment $149,549.00 state, $50,000 county
The Steven W. & Thomas H. Nealy farm, a 53-acre crop operation
Erie County – total investment $95,966.34 state only
The Samuel J. Valone Farm #1, a 45-acre crop operation
Lebanon County – total investment $233,328.95 state, $67,223.50
The David P. & Almira D. Kline farm, a 118-acre crop and livestock operation
Lehigh County – total investment $955,501.71 state; $3,433.70 county
The Lewis A. Moore farm, a 24-acre crop operation
The Earl O. & Kelly A. Zellner farm, a 152-acre crop operation
Northampton County – total investment $435,551.20 state; $151,309.60 county
The James D. & Barbara J. Hulett farm, a 29- acre crop operation
The Charles J. Hilliard & Alice V. Simmons farm, a 121-acre crop operation
Tioga County – total investment $182,980.00 state; $12,964.00 county
The AgKam LLC farm, a 60-acre crop and livestock operation
Union County – total investment $21,225.08 state; $202,450.33 county
The Eleanor J. Miller farm, an 84-acre crop and livestock operation
The Amos M. & Elizabeth M. Oberholtzer #1 farm, a 148-acre crop and livestock operation
The Amos M. & Elizabeth M. Oberholtzer #2 farm, a 94-acre crop operation
York County – total investment $311,875.96 state; $662,892.00 county
The Stephen H. & Lynn M. Brown farm, a 221-acre beef operation
The Lydia A. Keller farm, a 47-acre crop and livestock operation
The John L. & Doris E. Rexroth farm, a 51-acre crop and livestock operation
To learn more about Pennsylvania's Farmland Preservation Program, and investments in a secure future for Pennsylvania agriculture, visit agriculture.pa.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Demsey, [email protected]