Four farms totaling 92 acres are expected to be preserved under the Ocean County Farmland Preser-vation Program this year.
"This action could bring the number of farms preserved in Ocean County to 34 and the number of acres preserved solely for agriculture to more than 2,300," said Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr., who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Committee.
Meanwhile, the freeholders also recognized William Fox, who has served as an staunch advocate for the Farmland Preservation Program as chairman of the Ocean County Agriculture Develop-ment Board, according to a press release. Fox recently retired from the position.
"For 20 years, Bill has played an integral part in preserving farmland here in Ocean County," said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as liaison to the Agriculture Development Board. "We do appreciate the time he has given to this program and the care he has taken to make certain it has grown to the success it is today."
Under the Farmland Preservation Program, if approved, development rights for the farmlands are purchased with funds from the county and the state. Once in the program, the land remains in agricultural use.
"Many of the preserved farms are adjacent to one another," Bartlett said. "These adjacent properties make for a large section of land that will not be residentially developed. This program provides numerous environmental benefits including protecting our watershed."
The four farms approved this year for the program are:
• The Strawder Farm, an 11-acre farm along Bowman Road in Jackson.
• The Mascher Farm, a 10-acre farm along West Millstream Road in Plumsted.
• The Dwulet Farm, a 55-acre farm along Joe Parker Road in Lakewood.
• The Bryant Farm, a 16-acre farm along Fischer Road in Plumsted.
Bartlett noted the Dwulet Farm will be the first farm in Lakewood to join the preservation program.
The freeholders were scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed acquisitions during their regular board meeting on June 2 in Toms River.
Under the farmland preservation program, the state provides at least 60 percent of the funding, with the balance coming from local funding.
Since the program got under way in Ocean County, the state has provided more than $5.2 million toward the purchase of development rights for 27 farms and the county has provided $2.3 million.
Plumsted has contributed $227,500 for the preservation program, according to the press release.