Three Willows Farm in Springfield Township became the first New Jersey farm preserved using a new state formula to calculate development value.
The 70-acre cattle farm in Burlington County, owned by first-generation farmers Brian and Stacey Arzt, was celebrated during a ceremony on August 25 attended by state and local officials.
The preservation marks the debut of the Statewide Formula Value, which considers both development rights and additional value based on agricultural and natural resource characteristics.
The new formula was signed into law in January 2024 and took effect in April.
“We all agree – this formula is a game-changer for all of us hoping to preserve more of New Jersey’s remaining farmland,” Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel said in a statement.
The Arzt family raises cattle and sells pasture-raised beef directly to customers from their property located off Arney’s Mount Road.
Incentives for participation
According to the state, there are valuable incentives for landowners to participate in the Farmland Preservation Program. The program can help them meet their financial goals, providing them with the capital to expand their existing operations, eliminate or reduce their debt load, or further their estate or retirement planning. Participants in the program are also eligible to apply for cost-sharing grants to fund soil and water conservation projects. In addition, they enjoy limited protection from government acquisition of land through eminent domain, public and private nuisances, and emergency restrictions on the use of water and energy supplies.
The Farmland Preservation Program is administered by the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), which coordinates with County Agriculture Development Boards, municipal governments, nonprofit organizations, and landowners.
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