The Solano Land Trust and St. Anthony Parish closed escrow last week on three adjacent conservation easements that will protect 595 acres of the parish’s farmland preserve near Putah Creek in Winters.

The California Farmland Conservancy Program and USDA’s Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program provided grants for the agreement. The parish, which retains full ownership of the land, plans to use the equity to build a new church in Winters.

“It’s a great win-win result,” says St. Anthony parishioner John Hasbrook. “The easements help fulfill our stewardship responsibilities by protecting a high-quality resource in perpetuity, while the proceeds from the sale of the easements will help the parish build a new church and meditation garden for our congregation and the greater Winters community.”

Under the agreement, the parish will continue to own the land while farming or leasing it for agricultural purposes. Non-agricultural development will not be allowed except for housing for farm families or workers. Conservation agreements help to protect top-grade soil for local food production, and preserve the economics of agriculture.

According to the Solano County Department of Agriculture, the value of agricultural production for the county in 2010 was nearly $260 million, a 3 percent rise from the previous year.

“We welcome St. Anthony Parish to our land trust community as we partner to preserve essential agricultural lands,” says Nicole Byrd, executive director of Solano Land Trust. “It is partnerships like these that ensure the continuity of Solano County’s rich agricultural heritage.”

To date, Solano Land Trust has protected 20,636 acres of land in the county, including 8,448 acres of farmland.

“We’re pleased to have been a part of this project, which will ensure the continued agricultural viability of this productive and scenic property,” says Mark Nechodom, director of the California Department of Conservation.

“We congratulate the landowners, Solano Land Trust, and our federal funding partners on the completion of this easement and encourage other landowners in the area to consider the easement option for their properties.”

The St. Anthony Farmland Preserve is near Putah Creek on the Dixon Ridge, an alluvial fan of high-quality soils. Solano Land Trust has identified Dixon Ridge as a priority agriculture preservation area along with Vaca, Lagoon, Suisun and Green valleys.

Solano Land Trust has been protecting working farms and natural areas in Solano County since 1986. Its mission is to permanently protect and preserve farmland, ranchland and open space in Solano County through the acquisition of land and agricultural conservation easements, education, and land management. Learn more at www.solanolandtrust.org.

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