According to a survey conducted this September through the US Department of Agriculture, five counties in Maryland rank in the top twelve nationally for operating farmland preservation programs.

The counties are Montgomery, Baltimore County, Carroll, Harford and Frederick.  Their rankings are #2, 4, 6, 9 and 10 respectively.

The survey judges farmland preservation at the local level by 1) number of acres permanently preserved; 2) political leadership and professional administration; and, 3) Significant funding over time. While number
of acres determine ranking, inclusion in the survey requires meeting the other criteria.