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U it farmland preservation report Covering the policies, practices and initiatives that save farmland and open space Since 1990 . Deborah Bowers Editor 9THANNUAL SURVEY Montgomery returns to survey`s top slot After a year of having only the second highest number of preserved acres in FPWs national ranking of locally operated programs, Montgom- ery County grabbed back its top - ranking title from Lancaster County, Pa., logging a gain of 4,544 acres, 2,707 acres more than Lancaster which had the strongest gain last year. Montgomery's total, which includes acres protected through the transfer of development rights (TDR), stands at 59,415 acres and Lancaster's total is 56,708. These figures include acres under contract. It is partly through TDR that Montgomery's FARMAND RANCH LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM acreage increased. After a slump in activity that lasted several years, TDR sales are seeing a dramatic increase because the county's "last major development corridor came on line," Nation s top 12 local programs table, p. 4 -5 opening up a receiving area in Clarksburg, according to program manager John Zawitoski. TDR sales increased from 309 in FY'02 to 1,457 in FY `03. The cost of TDRs has fluctu- ated with the market, ranging around $10,000 in Continued on page 2 States return $3 million for reallocation WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three states will return all their FRPP FY 04 award funds because they have no applicants, and five other states are likely to return funds for other eligibility shortfalls, according to Denise Coleman, program adminis- trator for the federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program. The returned money, an estimated $3.5 million, will be divied out to qualifying states and localities by August, Coleman said. Arizona, South Dakota and Tennessee had no pending offers and will return a combined $23 million. Five other states — Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana and Nebraska, will return awards Continued on page 6 Volume 13, Number 9 July -Aug. 2003 Nation's top 12 local programs table ........................... 3 Newsbriefs .................................. ............................... 6 Jobpostings .................................. ............................... 7 Upcoming conferences .................. ............................... 8 Farmland Preservation Report is published by Bowers Publishing, Inc. 10 times per year. Subscription rate of $205 includes index and hotline services. Editorial and circulation offices: 900 La Grange Rd., Street, Maryland 21154 • (410) 692 -2708 • bowerspub @hotmail.com • ISSN: 1050 -6373. @ 2003 by Bowers Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in any form, or electronic forwarding of this material without permission is prohibited.