Land Trust of Virginia Completes First Agricultural Land Easement with Mundie Family

142 Acres of Farmland and Forest in Essex County Now Permanently Protected

Essex County, VA — June 20, 2025  — Land Trust of Virginia (LTV)is proud to announce the completion of its first Agricultural Land Easement(ALE), permanently protecting 142 acres of highly productive farmland and forest in Essex County. The property, owned by Lloyd and Linda Mundie, marks the family’s third conservation easement with LTV—demonstrating a deep and ongoing commitment to preserving the region’s agricultural heritage and natural resources.

This latest easement brings the total acreage the Mundies have conserved with LTV to over 270 acres. The Mundies’ first two easements protect neighboring properties along Doctors Creek in Richmond County, within the Lower Rappahannock River Important Bird Area, safe guarding significant water resources, wetlands, forests, and prime farmland. Now, with this third easement on their Essex County property, the family has also contributed to LTV’s efforts to conserve working agricultural lands through the federal ALE program.

“Our goal has always been to ensure that this land stays in farming for future generations,” said landowner Lloyd Mundie. “With the way farming and land prices are going, we wanted to lock this land in so it will never be used for anything but farming. We hope this will give our grandchildren a good start. I am so blessed to wake up every morning and go to work with my three sons.”

The newly protected 142-acreproperty is predominantly used for crop production, including corn and soybeans, with plans to reintroduce wheat into the rotation. Over 92% of the property’s soils are designated as Prime Farmland or Farmland of Statewide Importance by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The property also contains more than 40 acres of high-value forest and intact riparian buffers that contribute to the health of Hoskins Creek, the Rappahannock River, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.

“This easement represents an exciting milestone for LTV,” said Ashton Cole, Executive Director of Land Trust of Virginia. “It is our first Agricultural Land Easement, a tool that allows us to work alongside NRCS and dedicated landowners like the Mundies to protect Virginia’s working farms. The Mundies have been incredible partners, and their continued conservation leadership sets an inspiring example for others in the farming community.”

Agricultural Land Easements are made possible through the USDA’s NRCS ALE program, helping protect vital farmland from conversion to non-agricultural uses. The program allows landowners to continue actively farming their land while ensuring that it remains available for agricultural use in perpetuity. More information about the ALE program is available at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/ale-agricultural-land-easements.

With this easement, LTV has now helped the Mundie family protect three strategically important properties across Essex and Richmond Counties, demonstrating how conservation can both honor a family’s farming legacy and support the long-term viability of Virginia’s rural landscapes.

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