The latest agricultural easement builds on the County’s broader strategy to permanently protect farmland and open space.

Washington County has permanently preserved another 167.56 acres of agricultural land, bringing the total to more than 44,000 acres of permanently protected land across the county. The long-established dairy farm on Broadfording Road in Clear Spring was protected through an easement under the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF), funded by both Washington County and the state program.

The property adds to an existing concentration of permanently protected farmland in the area, which county officials say could also support neighboring landowners pursuing permanent easements.

MALPF represents the largest component of Washington County’s land preservation efforts. The program accounts for more than 17,000 acres, nearly 40% of the County’s permanent conservation easements. Administered locally through the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning’s Land Preservation Office, MALPF provides an opportunity for qualifying property owners to permanently preserve productive agricultural land through conservation easements.

The County’s broader preservation strategy includes several other state, federal, and local programs, including Rural Legacy, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Project Open Space, and Washington County’s Installment Purchase Program. The County has also increased its own financial investment in land preservation in recent years, supplementing funding traditionally provided through state programs.

Learn more about Washington County’s land preservation programs.