Laurie Sobel, who identified herself as representing sustainability and resiliency for the county, told the board that the Freehold Soil Conservation District conducted the county’s annual farmland preservation monitoring inspections for 2025.

Sobel said the district completed on-site inspections, handled state reporting to the New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee and performed necessary landowner follow-up work for preserved farms with county-held easements. The district mailed follow-up letters to landowners on Oct. 6 that detailed observed areas of concern in relation to preserved-farm deed-of-easement requirements.

The letters asked landowners to respond within 10 days with their plan to correct any issues, including the amount of time they believe is necessary to address concerns. Sobel said the overall goal is to assist landowners toward deed-of-easement compliance rather than pursue violations and that staff will continue to work with landowners and other stakeholders to move compliance efforts forward.

The board moved and seconded to accept the sustainability report; the motion carried on the transcript.