ACEP-ALE Success Story: Scruton’s Dairy
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About This Case Study
Across our nation, we are seeing success in implementing Agricultural Conservation Easement Program-Agricultural Land Easements Program funding to conserve our farmland and ranchland for future generations. The following case study shows how ALE programming has helped conservation of Scruton's Dairy in New Hampshire.
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Scruton’s Dairy has been in the family since 1926. Today, it is one of five dairy farms remaining in Strafford County, excluding the University of New Hampshire’s two research herds. Arthur ‘Artie’ Scruton, the third-generation dairyman, passed away in 2008, leaving Jason and Kerri Scruton the farm. They purchased the land that comprised the farm to help maintain the viability.
Development pressure has become a serious issue for the seacoast county. According to the Census of Agriculture, Strafford county saw a decline of more than 40 farms in 2017. Jason and Kerri Scruton worked with the Southeast Land Trust to enroll their farm in the NRCS ALE program in order to keep their family legacy in agriculture forever.
As of June 2020, Jason and Kerri closed on a conservation easement on their 135 acres. Conserving their land was not only in the best interest of their family, but for the herd, neighborhood, local community and most importantly the land.
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