Harford farm owners in an agriculture-preservation program would get an average of $444 more in annual tax breaks under new legislation.

Two bills, announced Thursday by County Executive David Craig, would increase tax credits from $35 to $50 an acre.

The breaks would go to 552 farm owners who have been paid to preserve their land from development.

“We are one of the few counties in the state, if not the nation, that not only pays people to join a program but gives them tax breaks to stay in,” said Bill Amos, Harford’s chief of agricultural and preservation.

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The tax credits would total about $1.1 million.

Craig also said 53 farmers have applied for the agricultural-preservation program, and the county has made offers to 13 of them, with a total of 1,715 acres. If they accept, the county would have about 43,000 acres of agricultural land in a preservation program.

In 2004, Craig set a goal to preserve 55,000 acres of agricultural land by 2012.

County Council President Billy Boniface said the council strongly supports Craig’s preservation measures.

Gene Umbarger, a farmer who just agreed to have his development rights purchased by the county, said he is happy his land will remain a farm. His father bought the 150-acre farm for $32,000 in 1918. Umbarger will sell development rights for about $1.5 million.

“It’s a great feeling; this view will be here forever,” Umbarger said.