In furtherance of the declared policy of the State to conserve, protect and encourage use and improvement of agricultural lands and to encourage, promote and protect farming as a valued occupation it is important to provide a means of facilitating the acquisition of farmland by young farmers, while furthering the goal of permanently protecting the farmland which is acquired through the placement of permanent preservation easements on the acquired farmland property. To accomplish this objective it is desirable to establish a farmland purchase and preservation loan program in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.

78 Del. Laws, c. 157, § ?1;