If I’m not mistaken only farms in an agri. security zone are eligible to sell their easements. Is that what is motivating the farmers? The prospect of getting hundreds of thousands of tax payer’s money? Say it ain’t so…..

That would be correct. East Hempfield is currently discussing the best way to develop all their AG Security Zone farmland. All of it will be developed, how and when is yet to be determined. I guess the words AG and Security are misnomers.
They can decide to keep it suburban with 2 to 3 houses per acre or go full urban with 8 houses per acre. (Remember the failed "Independence" model. That was going to be 12 houses per acre! )
City or suburb is the question. Money and greed is obviously is going to be a driving factor for the developers as always, regardless of what they say or where the live.

I'm confused. The article says that farms in the ag security zone are harder to comdemn for government uses and they receive state preservation funds but I'm hearing above that the farms in the ag security zone in E. Hempfield will be developed.

I live next to one of these farms and I want it to remain a farm not just for my own selfish reasons but for the benefits that preserving our landscape has for the entire county. Whose side should I be on?

If you don't like what is going to happen to land around your's you need to buy it.

Are you sure that the land in East Hempfield is an Ag Security Zone or is it Ag holding? There is a BIG difference. Ag Holding means that it is currently in agricultural use but that it can be changed if the urban growth boundary is extended in the future. The urban growth boundary is supposed to be able to handle the expected growth for the (usually) next twenty years.It is reviewed and readjusted after the twenty years period.
To qualify for preservation, a farm has to be in an Ag Security Zone. The preservation boards prefer that preserved farms be adjacent or close to each other to maintain continueity and create as large ablock as possible. A preserved farm cannot be sold off in the future for development without paying back any funds it received.