By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
MONROE — The Middlesex County Farmland Preservation Program announced that the 37-acre Indyk’s Farm in Monroe has become the 10th farm in the township and the 52nd in Middlesex County to be preserved forever now that it has entered in the state program.
The voluntary program purchases the non-agriculture development rights on farmland that meets criteria established by the Middlesex County Agriculture Development Board and the New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee.
Middlesex County purchased the farm, which is owned by Benjamin and Catherine Konopacki of Monroe, from funds and contributions from the state and Monroe Township.
According to a press release from the preservation program, the total cost of the development rights for the farm on Spotswood-Englishtown Road is $904,550.40.
The State contributed $539,432.64, the County paid $182,558.88 and Monroe Township paid $182,558.88. The purchase was completed June 10.
"I am very pleased to be able to announce the addition of this farm to the Middlesex County Farmland Preservation Program," said Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios in a statement. "This is great news, and I want to thank our partners at the state and in the Township for sharing our goal of forever safeguarding our land."
The release also said, with the addition of Indyk’s Farm, more than 5,400 acres of farmland, have been preserved throughout the county.
That number includes preservation easements purchased through the County Farmland Preservation Program funds, as well as purchases made directly by the State, the municipalities, non-profit organizations and land donated to the county.
The acquisition of Indyk’s Farm brings Monroe Township’s total preserved farmland base to 1,296 acres, which includes lands preserved through the Farmland Preservation Program as well as through other means such as municipal easements.
In another statement from the release, Freeholder Charles E. Tomaro, Chair of the County’s Infrastructure Management Committee said he and his committee were committed to the preservation.
"My Freeholder colleagues and I are committed to preserving as much Open Space and Farmland as we can in an effort to maintain the county’s high quality of life," he said.
"We have saved forever more than 12,000 acres of open space and farmland and are actively pursuing more acres so that these precious lands can be enjoyed now and in the future," he said.

