The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF)

Interested applicants should contact Shannon O’Neil, Agricultural Preservation Program Administrator at 301-600-1411 or via email. 

Monroe MALPF Sign 2022

The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Program (MALPF) is a state land preservation program aimed at preserving prime farmland for future food and fiber production by paying farmers to extinguish their development rights. Since 1980, over 28,265 acres of prime farmland have been permanently protected in Frederick County and over 350,000 acres in the State of Maryland. See the Official MALPF Website for more information.

Requirements

To apply for a MALPF easement, property owners must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Have a minimum of 50 contiguous acres, unless an adjoining property is already protected
  • Have a soil quality of at least 50% class I, II, III soils or Woodland Groups I and II
  • Have remaining development rights