By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

OXFORD, Ohio — Preble County farmer Gene Tapalman wiped the sweat from his brow as he stared at the rolling cornfields on his 500-acre farm near West Alexandria.

“That’s the 120th corn crop the Tapalman family has grown here in Ohio,” he said.

Thanks to the Clean Ohio Agricul-ture Easement Purchase Program, Tapalman’s grandchildren may be adding to that total.

Tapalman’s was one of 18 farms selected for this easement program. The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Office of Farmland Preservation will purchase easement rights on nearly 3,200 acres of land from 18 farms in the seventh and final funding round of the Clean Ohio Agriculture Easement Purchase Program.

Although the combined easement values exceed $8.6 million, a total of $3.1 million from the Clean Ohio Fund will secure these easements. An agricultural easement is a legal agreement limiting the use of land to predominately agricultural or related use.

The landowner relinquishes the right to develop the land for non-agricultural activities.

“I’ve farmed for 38 years and our decision on the easement program was a family decision,” Tapalman said.

“My wife, JoEllen, and my three children (ages 20-26) were all for it. My great-grandfather bought the property in 1889 and started with 80 acres.

“The good thing is that even if we sell out of the family a generation from now, it’ll still be farmland.”

Ernie and Marcia Schlichter of Butler County were also among the 18 families given the okay for this program. The family tends 159 acres, raising corn, hay, soybeans, cattle and horses.

Urban sprawl hasn’t encroached upon this peaceful part of Butler County; the nearest business to their farm is 10 miles away.
“We’re not in the easement yet, but we’ve been approved,” Marcia said. “People who were approved in 2007 are still not getting their resources. Let’s just say we’re in the front door.”

The farm has been in the family since 1854.

“Our four children hate to see farmland gobbled up,” Marcia said. “Some of the best farmland is ruined by development and they know that. We spoke to them and they want to keep this as a farm, and all said they’d like to have a farm of their own someday.”

Ernie’s grandfather, a German immigrant, came to the Butler County region (Bantas Creek Road) and raved about the area’s superb climate and rich soils.

The farm is located just one mile east of the Indiana state line.
After three years of applying, the Schlichters received notice of approval last month.

“At first we were leery of all of this,” Marcia said. “But it’s been a very successful program and there’s been a lot of farmland preserved.”

A two-tier ranking system was used to score the applications with a maximum of 150 points.

In the first tier, landowners gained points based on the land’s soils, the location relative to other protected area, if an implemented conservation plan is in place, the farm’s proximity to publicly available sewer and water or its proximity to urban counties.
Other factors include whether the farm is in an agricultural district or whether it has a unique cultural characteristic.

In the second tier applicants were to answer five questions, with a 12-member advisory board determining the score.

Applicants had to address the following: the general area where the farm is located with regard to adequacy of agricultural infrastructure, support services and facilities; what long-term investments have been made that are relevant to the continued operation of the farm; how the farm could be a good showcase project for the promotion of farmland preservation; what additional measures the governmental entity where the farm is located has taken to protect farmland; and what estate plan, farm succession plan or business management play is in place for the farm.
The Clean Ohio Act is up for renewal in November.