SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) - Over 200 acres of farmland in South Hadley received enough funding to conserve its use for agricultural purposes. In a news release from Kestrel Land Trust, Lauzier Farm located on Alvord Street is the last farm of its size in South Hadley with 205 acres. The farm has provided feed for dairy cows and vegetables for many years. Western Mass land trust organizations receive funding for forest preservation With the help of Kestrel Land Trust in partnership with the farm owners, the Town of South Hadley, and the community, an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) was purchased to protect the farmland from housing development. The $1.7 million APR is held by the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and was funded by the state, federal, and several other resources. The South Hadley Conservation Commission committed $40,000, residents donated $7,000, and Kestrel raised funds from more than 150 individuals, and local businesses including Route 33 Pizza House, Parkview Financial, and Peoples Bank.  The land has been maintained by Barstow’s Longview Farm and McCray’s Dairy Farm owners. Since the announcement of APR, the land is required to remain in active agricultural use, the Barstow family of Hadley is planning to purchase the Lauzier Farm to grow hay and field corn to feed their dairy herd using no-till planting practices to reduce erosion, protect soil health, and boost carbon storage on the land, said Denise Barstow Manz, a family spokesperson. Kestrel’s Conservation Director, Mark Wamsley said, "We are grateful to the landowners for their patience throughout this process, as their decision to permanently protect their land benefits the entire region. And, we thank MDAR as their staff guided this conservation process through various complexities to a successful outcome." South Hadley’s Planning and Conservation Director Anne Capra said, “The Town of South Hadley is thrilled to see this historic farm and landscape preserved forever. The Lauzier Farm has been an important part of the community for decades and we are excited to see a working farm maintained on Alvord Street for years to come.” “With increasing development pressure and the high price of land, we are grateful that the Lauzier family used the APR program to keep this acreage in agriculture. Agricultural land is important for wildlife habitat, clean air and water, climate resilience, and food security in Western Mass,” said Barstow Manz. Local News Headlines Chicopee Police arrested 70 people in December State Auditor finds inconsistencies in police training Springfield officers save woman from tracks within seconds from high-speed train Owl rescued on New Year’s Eve in Williamsburg after being struck by vehicle WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.