Two Westmoreland County farms were among the 26 protected by the state in recent purchases of permanent conservation easements in return for owners selling the “development value” of their property.

The farms involved in raising crops and livestock were protected under the state’s Farmland Preservation Program from future residential, commercial and industrial use. In the latest round of conservation easements in the 32-year program, the state is protecting 2,370 acres. The state partners with counties to purchase the development value.

“Once farmland goes out of production, it rarely comes back,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in a statement. “That’s why preserving farmland it so important.”

The state said it invested $229,090 and the county invested $131,426 for conservation easements for both Westmoreland County farms.

The 135-acre bicentennial Ambrose Farm, owned by Robert E., Sally J., Stephen P. and Kenneth N. Ambrose, was one of those protected. The crop farm is the first Cook Township farm preserved through the state program.

Several neighboring farms were preserved by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to land conservation.

The Linda J. Guyer and Dana A. Miller farm, a 69-acre crop and livestock operation in St. Clair Township, also was protected through the easements.

The conservation easements have yet to be filed with the Westmoreland County Recorder of Deeds.

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