Dear Editor,
This past week Republican Senator Yaw of Pennsylvania, as well as a member of the Senate Ag and Rural Affairs Committee proudly reported that 260 acres of farmland in Bradford County had been protected, by easement, from non-agricultural development. This latest easement brings Bradford County’s protected acreage up to 3,630 in 13 farms.
Yaw stated, “The commonwealth’s achievements have been remarkable examples of teamwork on the part of each county, the State Farmland Preservation Board and the Department of Agriculture.”
Senator Yaw added, “Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural heritage is something that must be protected and preserved for future generations.”
I want to congratulate the Senator and the individuals, particularly the farmers on the teams that worked to protect these lands from non-agricultural development.
As climate change challenges our Country, the eastern U.S. will play an increasingly more important role in providing food for our tables. My question for the readers of this letter is, “Where is the leadership in Tioga County, N.Y. that would lead to the protection of its best agricultural lands?”
Tioga County has a recently revised and approved Ag plan, but to my knowledge does not have a single farm protected. What must be done for Tioga to be the leader that we see in Bradford County Pa. with Senator Yaw?
Sincerely,
Marty Borko
Waverly, N.Y.
