County Agriculture Development Board

Now available: Our Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan(PDF, 20MB)

About the Board

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The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders (now County Commissioners) created the Morris County Agriculture Development Board (CADB) in 1983. The board was formed to oversee the farmland preservation program. The program enabled the County to offer farm owners the opportunity to preserve their farms, while continuing to own and maintain them. Since its creation the CADB has had 31 volunteer members (see the History of Morris CADB Membership(PDF, 226KB)). Read the Board’s Mission Statement(PDF, 7KB) .

The CADB is made up of seven voting members – four farmer and three public members. There are also seven non-voting members: three advisory members and four ex-officio members.

Farmland Preservation Program

Latest News

New Jersey Department of Agriculture accepting applications for the Wildlife Fencing Program now through June 30, 2025

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) is accepting applications for the Wildlife Fencing Program now through June 30, 2025. The Program provides up to 50 percent matching funds (up to $50,000) reimbursement to unpreserved farms for the installation of wildlife fencing. Enrollment in the Program is ongoing and will be awarded on a first-come first served basis. Please visit https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/agriassist/deerfencing.html for more information and the application package.

WFCS Program Flyer(PDF, 280KB)

40th Anniversary of the Morris County Agriculture Development Board

Click for the 40 Years of Farmland Preservation StoryMap

In 2023, the Morris County Agriculture Development Board celebrated its 40^th anniversary. We commemorated this occasion by illustrating all the farms preserved by the County Easement Purchase Program. Click to view the StoryMap.

“Over the last four decades in operation, the Morris County Agriculture Development Board has grown exponentially; beginning its efforts with one 14-acre farm in 1987 to amassing permanent conservation of an impressive 142 farms and 8,200 acres across Morris County. This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the county board’s efforts to protect and preserve both the land and the people that call Morris County their home.

From inception, the Morris County Agriculture Development Board was created with the success of the land and people in mind; overseeing the farmland preservation program while offering farm owners the opportunity to preserve, own, and maintain their farms with autonomy. This dedication to land and farmer has assisted in providing better lifestyles and prospects for agricultural residents and has facilitated advancements in conservation county-wide. The StoryMap provided by the Morris County Agriculture Development Board offers residents a glimpse into the success of the board and its diverse members with visual representation of preservation growth over the last forty years. With the protection of these 142 farms, the board welcomes a vast arrangement of members that represent the beauty and diversity of Morris County agriculture and all it stands for: honoring sectors such as vegetable, fruit, livestock, equine, dairy, hay, grain, and greenhouse operations and conservation.

This monumental milestone marking the 40^th anniversary was not achieved by one individual alone. Initial gratitude can be granted to the founding freeholders for creating this program while sincere appreciation can be given to past, present, and future Morris County employees for managing the day-to-day program operations. Without the dedication of all the serving board members, the success and continued growth of the program would not have reached its current eminence.”

Dale Davis III
Chairman
County Agricultural Development Board