The Office of Farmland Preservation has transferred its programs from the Virginia
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to the Virginia Department of
Forestry effective July 1, 2024.
Under the Code of Virginia, the new Office of Working Lands Preservation is tasked
with five important missions:
- Work with other governmental and private organizations to help establish local
purchase of development rights (PDR) programs by creating model policies and
practices, establishing criteria to certify programs as eligible to receive
funds from public sources, and determining methods and sources of funding for
localities to purchase agricultural conservation easements
- Create programs to educate the public about the importance of farmland
preservation
- Help farmers with farmland preservation efforts.
- Assist local governments in developing additional farmland preservation policies
and programs
- Administer the Virginia Farm Link program.
Please reach out to the contacts below for more information.