Stagecoach Road farm preserved in Millstone County is looking at 300 more acres in Back Bone Hill Rd. area MILLSTONE - The township has just preserved another family farm. Just a couple of months after its announcement of the preservation of the "Rising Sun" farm on Rising Sun Tavern Road in Millstone, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders announced on Oct. 23 that a 35-acre crop farm in Millstone has been added to the Farmland Preservation Program, according to a Monmouth County press release. The tract, located on Stagecoach Road, has been in the Dey family for seven generations, according to the press release. The press release did not provide the price of the preservation or a breakdown of how much it would cost at the township, county and state levels. William Heine, Monmouth County's public information officer, did not respond to calls made to obtain the information prior to press time. According to the press release, the Farmland Preservation Program enabled the landowner of the Stagecoach Road farm to take equity from the family farm and, at the same time, address tax issues that might have prevented the farm from being transferred to future generations, the press release said. The farm, which once grew potatoes, now grows Asian vegetables for markets in New York's Chinatown, according to the press release. Freeholder Lillian G. Burry said in the release, "While this farm may grow a different crop in the future, we can rest assured that it will never grow houses." Referring to Millstone, Burry said that Monmouth County is pleased to be working with such an active farmland preservation partner. "This easement acquisition happened less than two months after the preservation of another farm in the township," Burry said, referring to the recent preservation of the "Rising Sun" farm. The county's Farmland Preservation Program is overseen by the Monmouth County Agriculture Development Board (MCADB) and is administered by staff of the Monmouth County Planning Board. Landowners who participate in the program sell the development rights of their properties for a value based on the findings of two independent appraisers. The properties remain in private ownership on the tax rolls and can be used for any agricultural purpose. Farmland preservation is a cooperative effort involving multiple partners, according to Freeholder Anna C. Little. In the release, Little said, "The contributions from dedicated volunteers at the local level, acquisition services support from the Delaware & Raritan (D&R) Greenway Land Trust, professional services support by county staff and financial support from the township of Millstone, Monmouth County and the state of New Jersey all came together to preserve this piece of farmland forever." The Dey Farm was preserved through the Planning Incentive Grant (PIG) Farmland Preservation Program. The PIG program provides state grants to eligible counties and municipalities to purchase agricultural easements on farms in designated project areas. This arrangement empowers municipalities to take the lead in safeguarding their farmland resources, according to the press release. MCADB Chairman Joseph McCarthy remarked in the press release on the strategic nature of the Dey farm acquisition. "The Back Bone Hill farmland preservation project area is rapidly turning into one of the larger farmland preservation areas in Monmouth County," he said. "With the Dey farm, a total of four farms comprising nearly 200 acres has been preserved in this project area." In the release, McCarthy also noted that another six farms totaling some 300 acres are currently being pursued for preservation within the Back Bone Hill project area. At the local level, Millstone Township has demonstrated a strong commitment to farmland preservation efforts over the years, according to the press release. The Millstone Township Open Space and Farmland Preservation Council, led by Chairwoman Pat Butch, has ramped up its outreach and preservation efforts, evidenced by the fact that more than 600 acres of farmland are currently proceeding toward preservation, according to the press release. Millstone Mayor Nancy Grbelja said in the press release that the next few years will represent Millstone's last opportunity to preserve the character of the township. "We will be asking our residents whether they support increasing the local open space levy this November," Grbelja said. "Open space is less costly over both the short [term] and long term than development of the parcel." Grbelja also added that single-family tax ratables don't cover the costs of municipal services, community infrastructure and local schools. The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders currently provides financial resources in support of farmland preservation efforts to 10 municipalities, the press release said. Those municipalities make up most of the county's remaining farmland and its overall land base. According to the release, the county is committed to continuing its partnership with Millstone, recognizing that time is of the essence in protecting this rapidly disappearing resource.