Preserving Pa.’s farms | Friday Morning Coffee

Good morning, fellow seekers.

Welcome to Friday!

“This farm has been preserved.” You’ve likely seen these signs on your way to and from work, in your community or while visiting other parts of Pennsylvania.

What you might not have known is that the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Program has been in place since 1988, with its first preservation occurring a year later in 1989. 

In those 32 years, the program has preserved 5,813 farms across Pennsylvania, totaling 591,819 acres of farmland. 

This year, the program was able to protect 32 farms (included in above total) from 17 counties, accounting for more than 2,710 acres of preserved farmland.

“The disruptive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pennsylvania’s agricultural system have been broad and varied,” Redding said. “This year, we’ve watched farmers and consumers bridge the gap from farm to table. Producers and households have depended on each other for certainty and our state’s Farmland Preservation Program has made food security possible for our families and farmers across the commonwealth.”

The protected properties include fruit, vegetable, equine, crop, livestock, sheep, goat, and dairy operations, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

Some noteworthy farms preserved this year include Taggart Family Farm, a 73-acre crop farm located in Butler County. The property has been in the Taggart family for 220 years! The farm was first purchased by John Taggart who immigrated from Ireland in 1800! 

There are 190 bicentennial farms statewide, the department confirmed.

Also preserved this year is Barrick Farms LLC, located in Cumberland County.  The farm is a 482.25-acre dairy operation. It is the largest farm secured by the county board, the department said.

From Stephen Caruso: Third Pa. legislator this week tests positive for COVID-19, as Capitol rethinks pandemic-era swearing-in

ICYMI: Pa. First Lady Frances Wolf tests negative for COVID-19, following Gov. Tom Wolf’s positive diagnosis earlier this week.

Our partners at the Uniontown Herald-Standard report that the Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County has been hard at work during the COVID-19 pandemic in the latest installment of “Helping the Helpers.”

On our Commentary Page this morning, Jon Equia explores new electoral districts and Sean P. Quilan takes a look at American history’s contrarians.

California’s ancient Redwood forests are in danger from climate change, The New York Times reports. 

Watchable. 
Looking for a show you can binge-watch this weekend? Look no further. The listicle from The Wire is here to help.

Heavy Rotation.
Your daily earworm on this Flashback Friday is The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love.”

And now you’re up to date.