717-299-1100Agricultural Law
Representing farmers, farm businesses and municipalities involved in agriculture has been at the heart of Blakinger Thomas since the firm’s founding in 1986. Our firm was formed from two law firms, one of which (Wenger, Byler & Thomas) practiced agricultural and “rural” law extensively. We have been counsel to the nationally-known Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board since its inception. In addition to Lancaster County farmers, we represent numerous farmers in nearby Berks, Chester, York and Lebanon Counties and in more distant parts of Pennsylvania.
Our agricultural law work includes farm transactions (purchase and sale, negotiating agreements of sale, options to purchase, installment sale agreements, auction representation, intra-family transfers and lending), financing (purchase money, refinancing, government lending including EDC, FSA/USDA, Helping Program loans), title searches, family sales and agreements, agricultural leases, Clean and Green, agricultural land preservation/agricultural conservation easements, agricultural security areas, rural zoning, land use and subdivision, conservation practices, farm building construction and permitting (dairy, poultry and swine buildings), nutrient management plans, CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), ACRE disputes, and farm easements.