HAGERSTOWN, MD (January 12, 2026) – The Washington County Division of Planning & Zoning is proud to announce the recent preservation of a 15.22-acre farm in Smithsburg, bringing the County closer to achieving nearly 43,000 acres of permanently preserved land.
The easement, which was settled on December 23, preserves a crop farm located on Itnyre Road and was secured through funding from the Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industries Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) under its Small Acreage Next Generation Farmland Acquisition (SANG) Program. This preservation contributes to the continuity of agricultural land in the area and will support neighboring property owners as they pursue their own permanent conservation easements.
MARBIDCO’s SANG and Next Generation Farmland Acquisition (Next Gen) programs have been implemented in Washington County for the past six years and have proven to be valuable tools for first-time farm buyers seeking to acquire agricultural land. Funded by the State of Maryland, these programs are administered locally by the Land Preservation Office within the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning.
The SANG and Next Gen programs are designed to assist new farmers who have not previously owned more than 20 acres of contiguous land. Applicants must have a property under contract, or be close to making an offer, at the time of application. The typical contract period lasts approximately six months, and at settlement MARBIDCO may provide up to 51 percent of the fair market value of the land as down payment assistance, helping to make farm ownership more attainable for the next generation of agricultural producers. Applications for these programs are accepted on a rolling basis.
MARBIDCO’s SANG and Next Gen programs are part of Washington County’s broader, multi-faceted land preservation strategy, which is designed to protect agricultural, historic, scenic, and environmentally significant lands. In addition to these programs, Washington County participates in and supports:
- The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPF)
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) initiatives, including the Rural Legacy Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), and Program Open Space Stateside
- The County’s Installment Purchase Program (IPP)
- Local forest conservation easements
- Federal programs such as the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) and Federal Scenic Easements
- Partner-supported easements through organizations including the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), Antietam Battlefield Trust (ABT), Mid-Maryland Land Trust (MMLT), and others
While state programs have traditionally provided the majority of funding for land preservation efforts, Washington County has taken proactive steps in recent years to contribute additional local funding in support of long-term land conservation.
For more information about Washington County’s land preservation programs, please contact Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, at 240-313-2447 or via email at [email protected].
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