A bill to appropriate $34 million for farmland preservation in New Jersey cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
The legislation, sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner and Michael Testa, would direct constitutionally allocated funds to the State Agriculture Development Committee for grants covering up to 80% of the cost to acquire farmland development easements.
The money would support planning incentive grants to counties aimed at keeping land in agricultural use. Five counties—Burlington, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, and Somerset—would receive base grants between $500,000 and $1 million.
Fifteen counties in total would be eligible to compete for additional awards of up to $7.5 million through a statewide grant program.
Funds would come from the Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund, backed by a constitutional dedication from the state’s General Fund.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.