Butler Eagle File Photo

The Shapiro administration announced on Friday, Feb. 24, that 32 farms statewide comprising 3,047 acres will be protected from future residential or commercial development through the Farmland Preservation program.

The program is aimed at preserving prime Pennsylvania farmland for long-term agricultural use.

Butler County is one of the 21 counties where farms were approved.

The David J. Kradel farm in Buffalo Township, a 65-acre crop and livestock operation, was approved for preservation by the state Agricultural Land Preservation Board.

Since 1988, Pennsylvania has invested more than $1.6 billion to protect 6,180 farms on 622,238 acres in 58 counties from future development.

Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserved farmland.