In compliance with Virginia Code § 10.1-1119.2 (see Appendix 5), the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) assumed the duties of the Office of Farmland Preservation (OFP) on July 1, 2024. This change resulted in the formation of the new Office of Working Lands Preservation (OWL). OWL now manages both the former OFP responsibilities and DOF’s existing easement program, continuing all activities previously handled by the Forestland Conservation team.

This annual report highlights the key achievements of OWL during the period of Dec. 1, 2024, to Nov. 30, 2025.

Significant accomplishments for OWL during this reporting period include the following:

• Continued to work with key agriculture, conservation, and government partners to refine and improve the programs previously administered by OFP, such as the allocation process for state matching funds to local purchase of development rights (PDR) programs;

• Allocated $437,500 in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) state matching funds to six local PDR programs;

• Worked with local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs to permanently preserve 206.26 acres (five easements) of working farm and forest land. OWL provided $682,429.72 of the $1,069,567.78 total purchase price and transaction costs paid for these easements;

• Through DOF’s open-space easement program, conserved five properties totaling 2,181 acres of land;

• Re-established agreement with Virginia Cooperative Extension to reimburse VCE for the farm and forest legacy planning workshops conducted to help landowners and professional service providers transition existing agricultural and forestal operations;

• Hosted, in coordination with the Virginia Farm Bureau and other key partners, a strategic planning session to determine the future of the Virginia Farm Link Program.