Mansfield, North Hanover, Springfield farms among 11 to be preserved
By: Eve Collins
The state Assembly last week approved $3.8 million in appropriations for the preservation of 11 farms in Burlington County.
Officials in the Assembly unanimously approved the bill May 22. The appropriations were approved by the state Senate in December, said Ralph Siegel, spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture. The bill next will go before Gov. James E. McGreevey.
The 11 farms, totaling 683 acres, are located in Mansfield, Medford, North Hanover, Southampton and Springfield townships. They will be added to the 126 farms already preserved in Burlington County.
The farms were acquired through the County Easement Purchase Program, which allows landowners to sell their development rights to the county. The landowners retain ownership, but the land is deed-restricted to agricultural use.
The farms are carefully appraised by two independent appraisers, Mr. Siegel said, and are assigned values based on where they are located, the quality of the land, and the local land values, among other factors.
The state Agricultural Development Committee provides 60 to 68 percent of the funding for the farms through the Garden State Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. The rest is split between the townships and county.
Three farms in Mansfield have been preserved: the 106-acre Hoefling farm, valued at $477,000, with the state paying $375,000 of the cost; the 60-acre Puglia farm, valued at $750,000, with the state paying $600,000 of the cost; and the 79-acre Winzinger farm, valued at $355,000, with the state paying $275,000.
One farm in Medford has been preserved, the 98-acre Johnson farm is valued at $1.6 million, with the state paying $1.3 million of the cost.
Two farms in North Hanover have been preserved: the 24-acre Dyott farm, for which the state will pay $100,000; and the 30-acre Geibel farm, for which the state will pay $75,000.
Two farms in Southampton have been preserved: the 72-acre Giacchino farm, valued at $554,000, with the state paying $400,000; and the 35-acre Hanson property, for which the state will pay $100,000.
Three farms in Springfield have been preserved: the 72-acre Phillips farm, valued at $309,000, with the state paying $250,000; the 80-acre Shinn/Branin farm, valued at $218,000, for which the state will pay $200,000; and the 33-acre Walder North farm, valued at $157,000, with the state paying $150,000 of the cost.

