Massachusetts Agricultural Highlights, 1 988 



AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION RESTRICTION PROGRAM 



FARMLAND PROTECTED: 22,486 acres (1980-1988) 



PARCELS 243 



FUNDS INVESTED: $51^44,630 (1980-1988) 



MEAN COST PER ACRE $2,283 



The Agricultural Preservation Restricition Program compensates farmers for placing a permanent deed 

 restriction on their land. This means that the property will be permanently protected for agricultural 

 production and the farmer can obtain some of the equity from his land without selling it for development. 



Farmland valuation: Chapter 61A of the Massachusetts General laws was established to provide fair and 

 accurate tax classification for owners of farmland in active agricultural use. The values are determined on an 

 annual basis by the farmland valuation assessment commission. 



Geographic Distribution of APR Dollars and Acreage 



Regional Distribution of Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) 



Dollars invested, parcels and acreage, 1980-1988 



Chronological Summary of the Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program, 1980-1987 



YEAR PARCELS ENROLLED ACRES FUNDS INVESTED AVG. ACRE COST 



1980 

 1981 

 1982 

 1983 

 1984 

 1985 

 1986 

 1987 

 1988 



TOTAL 243 



(1) Includes state and municipal funds 



Source: Department of Food & Agncullure 



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