Farming remains an important part of Upper Allen Township’s identity. While the township has experienced significant residential, commercial, and industrial growth, the township’s official history page says that “large farms still exist throughout the area,” showing that agriculture is still part of the community’s present-day landscape, not just its past.

One of the clearest examples of Upper Allen’s support for agriculture is its Agricultural Security Area, also called an ASA. The township says the ASA was established in 2002, and as of 2024, it includes more than 902 acres. The ASA program exists to strengthen and protect agriculture in Pennsylvania by allowing eligible farm owners to voluntarily place land into a designated area that supports the long-term viability of farming. According to the township’s public information, participation in the ASA is voluntary. The township also explains that the program can provide certain protections and benefits, including consideration if farmland is proposed for condemnation, protection from some nuisance challenges, and a path toward farmland preservation through conservation easements.

Agriculture still appears in Upper Allen Township’s planning and zoning discussions. In June 2025, Board of Commissioners meeting minutes reflected discussion about limiting certain contractor-related uses in the Agricultural District so that more intensive non-farm uses would be directed to more appropriate commercial or industrial areas instead. That discussion shows that agricultural zoning is still being treated as something worth protecting. In May 2025, township meeting minutes also noted that future planning can include farmland preservation. That does not mean every piece of farmland is permanently protected, but it does show that preserving agricultural land remains part of the township’s long-term planning conversation.