County Auctions 700 Acres of Preserved Farmland

Burlington County freeholders have approved the auction of five county-owned preserved farms totaling 731 acres in Springfield, Shamong and Hainesport townships for nearly $3 million.

Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio said the county acquired these properties outright, and sold them at auction earlier this year as preserved farms with easements that restrict development.

“The revenue from this auction will be used to preserve other farms within the county,” said Garganio. “By transferring this farmland back into private ownership, the county is helping to ensure the long-term viability of the agricultural industry within the county, while minimizing the county’s management expense and taxpayer cost.”

Some of the farmland preservation in the county is done through purchasing easements, with the original owner retaining the property. In other instances, the county has purchased unrestricted farms outright with the intention of reselling them at public auction as deed-restricted farms. The farms auctioned on Feb. 22 had sale conditions, including a limitation of one residence per farm and other restrictions to ensure the property remains in agriculture. 

The auction—conducted by Max Spann Real Estate Auctions, Inc.—was attended by more than 150 people. The farms sold were:

• The BF&W North, a 216-acre crop farm, on Route 206 in Springfield, was sold for $490,000 to Tom Allen. It is anticipated the farm will remain in grain production.

• The BF&W South, a 126-acre crop farm, on Route 206 in Springfield, was sold for $625,000 to Probasco Farms of Chesterfield, which will be used for growing crops such as potatoes, other vegetables and grain.

• The Aristone Farm, a 162-acre equine farm, located on Route 206 in Shamong, was sold for $530,000 to Patrick Harber. It is anticipated the land will be used for continued equine production and the growing of hay. This was the first farm ever preserved by Burlington County in Shamong.

• The Ziegler/Walder farm, a 140-acre crop farm, on Juliustown Road in Springfield, was sold for $745,000 to Peter Gasko, owner/operator of Gasko’s Family Farm and Greenhouses in Monroe.

• The Hainesport LLC Farm, an 87-acre crop farm, on Hainesport-Mount Laurel Road in Hainesport, was sold for $515,000 to Warren Hopely. It is anticipated the farm will remain in grain crops with some components of equine and hay production.

The county will monitor the land to ensure it continues in agricultural use.
 
Burlington County has preserved more than 200 farms totaling over 23,000 acres, the highest amount in New Jersey.