Frederick County Accepting Applications For MALPF Program

It’s designed to preserve farmland and woodlands.(Photo from Frederick County Government)Frederick, Md (KM) Applications are being accepted from Frederick County farmers and other landowners for the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Easement program. Under the MALFP program, the state purchases easements—or development rights–from property owners under this program .which forever restricts development on prime farmland and woodlands.Since it was started in 1977, the county says more than 26,000 acres of  farmland have been preserved. . The state program and several county land preservation programs have together protected more than 76,000 acres of land and kept it in agriculture.  Out of that, 72,494 acres have been permanently preserved in Frederick County.The MALPF is part of the Maryland Department of Agriculture, and is considered one of the most successful. programs of its kind in the nation. The State of Maryland, with the work of the MALFP program, says it has protected more agricultural land than any other state in the US.The deadline to apply for the MALPF program  is at the close of business on April 1st, 2024. To apply or for more information, call Shannon O’Neil at 301-600-1411, or send an e-mail to soneil@frederickcountymd.gov.By Kevin McManus