1,000 acres of Skagit farmland to be preserved

Published 12:58 pm Wednesday, July 8, 2015

MOUNT VERNON — Lawmakers have included about $1.3 million in the state’s capital budget to preserve 1,000 acres of Skagit County farmland for agriculture uses.

The Skagit Valley Herald says that money will be matched by the Skagit County Farmland Legacy Program, which supports local agriculture.

About 11 farmers applied for conservation easements in a program where they get paid for giving up the right to develop on their land. The easements designate the land for agriculture uses only, even if the landowner decided to sell or lease the land.

Already, about 9,500 out of about 100,000 acres of Skagit County farmland are preserved for agricultural uses.

The governor has signed the $3.9 billion capital budget, but lawmakers still need to pass a bonding bill to implement it.