(WHTM) — The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will invest nearly $10 million to protect farmland from residential and commercial development.

The deal includes 2,672 acres in Adams, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin and 13 other counties.

The investment is part of the Commonwealth’s Farmland Preservation Program, which acquires easements to preserve prime farmland.

“Preserving Pennsylvania farmland is an investment in the future of our economy and farm families,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “When that land is lost to development, we lose one of our most valuable economic assets.”

Investments in the Midstate include:

• Adams County – Total investment – $340,376; state – $177,367; county – $163,009
• Franklin County – Total investment – $729,324; state only
• Lancaster County – Total investment – $1,521,650; state – $56,392; county – $1,415,258; Manor Township – $50,000
• Lebanon County – Total investment – $680,417; state – $435,235; county – $245,182
• Mifflin County – Total investment – $73,355; state – $66,690; county – $6,665

More than 48,800 farms contribute $132.5 billion and almost 600,000 jobs to the Commonwealth, according to the department.

Since starting in 1998, the department said the preservation program has protected 6,564 farms across 58 counties.

The program works by purchasing easements, a right to use another person’s property for a specific purpose, granting rights to develop farmland. The state does this so farmers can still profit off development rights without having to sell for commercial projects.

Farmers continue to own and farm their land after the deals.

The state partners with local governments and nonprofits to make the purchases. Farmers apply for the program and county agricultural land preservation boards evaluate the applications.

Eligible farms are rated under specific criteria:

• Quality of farmland – At least half of the land must either be harvested cropland, pasture or grazing land and it must contain 50 percent soil capability. Farms must also be a minimum of 50 acres in size or 35 acres if a county allows farms that size in its program. Additionally, parcels as small as 10 acres may qualify if it is next to already preserved farmland or is used for the production of crops unique to the area.
• Stewardship – The use of conservation practices, nutrient management and control of soil erosion and sedimentation.
• Likelihood of development

Farmers receive all of the proceeds from the easement sale, according to the department.