Published: September 29, 2009 10:53 pm      

Farmland along towpath available

CUMBERLAND — Nearly 350 acres of federal farmland in Allegany County are available to rent from the National Park Service.

Peggie Gaul, of the C&O Canal National Historical Park in Hagerstown, said experienced farmers with a knowledge of sustainable production practices will be given priority over less experienced individuals.

“We’re pretty much looking for some people with experience in farming, those who use good, sound, agricultural (principles),” Gaul said.

There are a handful of properties along the C&O Canal Towpath between Spring Gap and Oldtown with leases that expire Dec. 31. New tenants could be in place by early 2010, Gaul said. Each of them is currently being farmed but “we just want to make them available to other folks to bid on if they’re interested.”

“Some fields have had the program in place since the 1970s, almost since the park was established,” Gaul said. “We wanted to maintain the historic landscape. We want to have visitors who were using the towpath to understand this was agricultural land up and down” the length of the towpath.

There are multiple uses possible for the lands. Currently, farmers harvest sorghum and hay while another uses a field for pasture land.

Gaul said the program is a benefit to both the farmer and the federal government. The farmer gains an economic development opportunity on prime farm land.

“Our land is fertile because it’s within the flood plain,” she said. “From a practical standpoint, it’s good farm land.”

The government wins, too, by maintaining its goal of preserving the historic landscape associated with the C&O Canal.

Applications for the program must be received by Oct. 23. They should be sent to the attention of the Agricultural Use Program, C&O Canal National Historical Park, 1850 Dual Highway Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Applications can also be faxed to (301) 714-2232.

Applicants will be briefed on the conditions under which they will be expected to use the rented farmland.

There’s no set rent. Bid packages will be evaluated on the applicant’s agricultural experience, the farmer’s ability to achieve park goals and the proposed bid amount. Gaul said an experienced farmer offering less rent will be evaluated more favorably than an individual with less experience but a higher bid.

Permits will be issued for between three and five years based on each farm’s management objectives, Gaul said. Each permittee will be subject to a one-year probationary period.

There are more than 1,200 acres available in the program in Allegany, Washington, Frederick and Montgomery counties.

For more information, contact Gaul at (301) 491-1743 or Michelle Carter at (301) 714-2225 or by e-mail at michelle_carter@nps.gov.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.