Fact Sheets: About Maryland’s Agricultural Land Preservation Program
	The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program, in existence since 1977, is one of the most successful programs of its kind in the country. Its primary purpose is to preserve sufficient agricultural land to maintain a viable local base of food and fiber production for the present and future citizens of Maryland. For a full view of the Program, please read the fact sheets described below. Because of recent changes in the Program, the fact sheets are currently being revised. The revisions will be posted as soon as they are available.
HOME PAGE OVERVIEW FACT SHEETS: 1-The Easement Acquisition Program 2-Settlement of an Agricultural Conservation Easement 3-Development Options Retained in Districts and Easement Properties 4-Small Properties in the Agricultural Preservation Program 5-Subsequent Owners of Districts or Easement Properties 6-Agricultural Preservation Districts AGENDAS: Meetings of the MALPF Board of Trustees MINUTES: Meetings of the MALPF Board of Trustees LEGISLATION: Status of Current or Recent Legislation Introduced to the General Assembly affecting MALPF LEGAL DOCUMENTS: Relevant Annotated Code, Regulations, and the Deed of Easement FORMS: Easement Application, Lot Exclusion Requests, and Others REPORTS: Annual Reports and Policy Reports and Documents BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONTACT INFORMATION: -Program Administrators -Foundation Staff LINKS: -Other State Land Preservation Resources -County Land Preservation Resources
	Fact Sheet 1 – "The Easement Acquisition Program" – describes the eligibility criteria for easement application, the conditions of an easement, the stages of the easement acquisition program, and how to determine the "asking price" for an easement application. Fact Sheet 2 – "Settlement of an Agricultural Conservation Easement" – describes the process of settlement of an agricultural conservation easement and measures to take to expedite that process. Fact Sheet 3 – "Development Options Retained in Districts and Easement Properties" – details the eligibility landowners retain to request that lots for themselves and their children be released from the district or easement. It also details the eligibility and procedure for tenant house approval. Fact Sheet 4 – "Small Properties in the Agricultural Preservation Program" – describes how the program works and its limitations for owners of small properties interested in participating in the program. Fact Sheet 5 – "Subsequent Owners of Districts or Easement Properties" – describes the benefits and restrictions of the Program to the current owner of property on which the previous owner had established an agricultural preservation district or sold a perpetual agricultural conservation easement. Fact Sheet 6 – "Agricultural Preservation Districts" – describes the changing role of agricultural land preservation districts in the State agricultural land preservation program and the role that agricultural land preservation districts will likely play for counties in the future.
	Fact sheets are public documents and are provided for general information purposes only. If you have a question about a specific law, regulation, or provision of the district agreement, option contract, or deed of easement, please consult legal counsel. Last revision: February 3, 2008. info@malpf.info
	STATE OF MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Martin O'Malley, Governor Anthony G. Brown, Lt. Governor Roger L. Richardson, Secretary Earl F. "Buddy" Hance, Deputy Secretary Maryland Department of Agriculture Home Page http://www.malpf.info/facts.html