Boards & Commissions

PIG BT FAQs

• Q:How does a farm become eligible for preservation?
• A:Land qualifying for farmland tax assessment under the Farmland Assessment Act of 1964 and is located within the Bernards Township PIG Project Area, is eligible.
• Q:Why should landowners consider preserving their farms?
• A: Past experience has shown that farm owners are motivated to preserve their farms for a variety of reasons, including securing capital to expand their existing agricultural operation, eliminating or reducing debt load and estate and retirement planning.
• Q:What is a development easement?
• A:A development easement is an interest in farmland, which represents the owner's right to develop for non-agricultural purposes. When this interest is sold, the landowner voluntarily agrees to place restrictions on the farmland, retaining it for agricultural use and prohibiting non-agricultural development. The restrictions are recorded as a deed of easement and run with the land forever.
• Q:Do preserved farms receive any special benefits and protections from governmental actions?
• A: Participants in preservation programs enjoy limited protection from:
  • governmental exercise of eminent domain for the acquisition of land on which a development easement has been purchased or donated;
  • governmental disbursement of grants or loans for the construction of dwellings, commercial facilities, transportation facilities, or water and sewer facilities to serve non- farm structures; public and private nuisance actions; and emergency restrictions on the use of water and energy supplies.
  • In addition, participating landowners are eligible for cost-sharing grants for soil and water conservation projects.
• Q:Can a participant in the farmland preservation program sell the property?
• A:Yes. The deed restrictions run with the land, regardless of the owner of record. Future owners of preserved farms would also be required to abide by the deed restrictions.
• Q:Does the public have a right to access preserved farms?
• A: The public has no right to access or use deed-restricted farms without the owner's consent.
• Q:Who should a landowner interested in participating in the program contact?
• A:Interested landowners should contact the Bernards Township Agricultural Advisory Committee’s Secretary, Suzanne Hooper, at 908-204-3076