Pennsylvania Farmer Rejects $15.7M Data Center Deal to Preserve Farmland

86-year-old Mervin Raudabaugh sold development rights for under $2M to protect his 261-acre farm from being destroyed.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Mervin Raudabaugh, an 86-year-old Pennsylvania farmer, turned down a $15.7 million offer from data center developers to preserve his 261-acre farm. Instead, Raudabaugh sold the development rights for under $2 million to the Lancaster Farmland Trust, ensuring his land will remain farmland for future generations.

Why it matters

Raudabaugh's decision highlights the growing tension between preserving farmland and the booming data center industry, which is consuming massive amounts of land, electricity, and water. As data centers continue to spread, more farmers are facing difficult choices about the future of their land.

The details

Raudabaugh was offered $60,000 per acre by data center developers, amounting to a $15.7 million deal. However, he chose to sell the development rights to the Lancaster Farmland Trust for just under $2 million, ensuring his land will only be used for farming. Raudabaugh expressed concern about the impact of a nearby data center being constructed in Middlesex Township and the broader trend of farmland being replaced by development.

  • In December, the Lancaster Farmland Trust bought the development rights to Raudabaugh's 261-acre farm.
  • Raudabaugh has been farming in Silver Spring Township, outside of Harrisburg, for over 60 years.

The players

Mervin Raudabaugh

An 86-year-old Pennsylvania farmer who rejected a $15.7 million offer from data center developers to preserve his 261-acre farm.

Lancaster Farmland Trust

A trust that purchased the development rights to Raudabaugh's farm for just under $2 million, ensuring the land will remain farmland.

Jeff Swinehart

The chief operating officer for the Lancaster Farmland Trust, who spoke about the organization's mission to preserve farmland.

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What they’re saying

“I was not interested in destroying my farms. That was the bottom line. It really wasn't so much the economic end of it. I just didn't want to see these two farms destroyed.”

— Mervin Raudabaugh (Fox 43)

“We see from many farm families their desire to ensure that that farm remains a farm forever and that it contributes to the local community and that local quality of life.”

— Jeff Swinehart, Chief Operating Officer, Lancaster Farmland Trust (Fox 43)

What’s next

The Lancaster Farmland Trust's purchase of the development rights to Raudabaugh's farm will ensure the land remains farmland in perpetuity, preserving it for future generations.

The takeaway

Raudabaugh's decision to reject a multi-million dollar offer from data center developers in order to preserve his family's farmland highlights the growing tension between development and agricultural preservation. As the data center industry continues to expand, more farmers may face similar difficult choices about the future of their land.