The Ohio State University Extension Office in Butler County, the Three Valley Conservation Trust, Butler Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Natural Resources Conservation Services have planned a workshop to prepare farmers, local officials and other landowners for upcoming farmland preservation and open space program deadlines. The evening program will be on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at 1802 Princeton Road, Hamilton, Ohio 45011.

For those who want an option to not sell their land but seek some money for retirement, the Clean Ohio Agri-cultural Easement Purchase Program is a tool to consider. The program was first funded by voters who approved a bond issue in 2002.

Since that time, $25 million has been spent to preserve 135 farms consisting of 26,814 acres. The program is very competitive with over 1,800 applications filed in the past seven years. Locally, seventeen farms covering 3,500 acres have been protected through this program.

Voters again passed a new bond issue last fall and another $25 million has been set aside for purchase of development rights. While the Ohio Department of Agriculture holds the conservation easements on properties that are funded, The Three Valley Conservation Trust is the designated local sponsor in Butler and Preble Counties, and fulfills a similar function in Montgomery County.

Over the past decade, the nonprofit Three Valley Conservation Trust and the Ohio Department of Agriculture have also accepted donations of agricultural easements from landowners who wish to protect their farms and keep the farm in agricultural production. Combined, more than 10,000 acres have been protected through easement donation.

The Feb. 26 workshop topics include:  changes in, and how to apply for, the Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program; tax benefits for preserving family lands; federal farm and ranch lands protection program; agricultural security area; NRCS conservation program cost share programs and whole farm conservation plans. These matching grant and tax programs provide funding options for farmers and other landowners looking to permanently protect their lands.

Please call the OSU Extension Office at 513-887-3722 or the Three Valley Conservation Trust at 513-524-2150 with your reservations. For more information, please call, or visit the TVCT website at www.3vct.org