Shelton is at the forefront when in comes to farmland preservation. 

The White Hills region along Route 110  has been targeted by the Conservation Commission for preservation. This region is under intense developmental pressures, with new houses built on old farmland selling for up to $1,000,000 each. 

One way of limiting future subdivision of agricultural lands through a "Purchase  of Development Rights" or PDR. The farmer continues to own and farm the land, but cannot build houses on it. Nor can any future owner build on the land.  The value of the development rights is determined by an appraisal of the property's value as farmland vs its value as housing real estate.  Sometimes farmers choose to sell their development rights for less than the appraised value as a gift to the community. 

The following farms in Shelton have sold their development rights:

Jones Family Farm - Pumpkinseed Hill and Valley Farm (where the strawberries are).   Homestead Acres, the remainder of the farm, is pending.
Shelton Family Farm
Beardsley Organic Farm

Farmland can also be preserved by buying the land outright and then making arrangements with local farmers to harvest crops there.   This has been done at the following farms:

Wiacek Farm:  Hay is grown on this property located just north of Shelton High School.
Land Trust Meadow: Hay is also grown in a meadow owned by the Shelton Land Conservation Trust off of Lane Street near Huntington Center.
 

Grants: In 1996 the Board of Aldermen adopted an ordinance establishing the Shelton Agricultural Land Preservation Fund in order to participate in the state Farmland Preservation Program. Up to $600,000 in matching funds can be received from the State and additional funds may be obtained through Federal USDA grants.