HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-05-2009 - 6a (2)ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 5, 2009
Action Agenda
Item No. (o —Q
SUBJECT: Oranae County Aaricultural Development and Farmland Protection Plan
DEPARTMENTS: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No
Conservation, Soil and Water
Conservation District, Farm
Services Agency, Cooperative
Extension
ATTACHMENT(S):
1) ADFP Program Brochure
2) Cover Memo from APB Chair
3) Final Steps Schedule
4) Resolution for Adoption FPP
5) Draft Document
INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Stancil
245 -2590
Brent Bogue
245 -2750
Phyllis Ruth
732 -4301 x2
Joey Knight
245 -2050
PURPOSE: To consider adopting an Agricultural Development and Farmland Protection Plan
(FPP) for Orange County.
BACKGROUND: In 1986, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Farmland
Preservation Enabling Act, which provided counties with the authority to establish farmland
preservation programs including voluntary agricultural districts (VADs) and agricultural advisory
boards. In 2005, the General Assembly amended the program with an expanded focus. The
new Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Enabling Act and the Agricultural
Development and Farmland Preservation (ADFP) Trust Fund supports agricultural development
programs such as business planning and incubator programs as well as agricultural
conservation easements and other traditional farmland preservation programs (please see
Attachment 1). Counties with adopted countywide farmland protection plans receive
preference and lower match requirements for Trust Fund monies. In the last two years,
creation of these plans has become a priority for many County -level farmland programs in the
State, with several currently underway. While Orange County has approved a number of
different farmland preservation reports and programs over the past two decades, some
components of the new state - recommended Farmland Protection Plan have not been
previously incorporated into a single document, as envisioned by the new state legislation.
The creation of a plan under the new model from the state has been a priority for the County
agricultural agencies. For more than a year and a half, the Agricultural Preservation Board has
been working with the other local agricultural advisory boards (Soil and Water Conservation
District Board of Supervisors, Farm Services Agency Committee for Durham and Orange
counties, and the Cooperative Extension Advisory Council) to prepare this important plan, which
- consistent with the new 2030 Comprehensive Plan - should serve as the strategic plan for
County agricultural activities for the next several years (please see Attachments 2 and 3). The
2
latest version of the FPP was also shared with the Economic Development Commission in an
effort to ensure consistency and pursue partnership opportunities. The draft was also sent to
staff at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and North
Carolina State University to ensure sufficient coverage of the seven key components outlined in
the program model.
Because of the financial and strategic planning benefits associated with countywide farmland
protection plans, the adoption of a Farmland Protection Plan is addressed in the Natural and
Cultural Systems Element of 2030 Comprehensive Plan (Agricultural Chapter). The FPP also
speaks to emerging issues such as local food systems and new initiatives to address increasing
energy costs and alternative energy needs (topics which go hand in hand with the County's
efforts to pursue energy efficiency through stimulus funding), and ongoing projects such as the
local Piedmont Food and Agricultural Processing Center. As the plan asserts, local agriculture
can and should have a role in the County's efforts toward a green economy. Many of the
strategies outlined in the FPP can contribute to a more holistic approach toward the completion
of a comprehensive energy plan.
Since the FPP is by nature a substantial document in scope and breadth, the Board previously
received a copy of the draft Farmland Protection Plan as an informational item on June 16,
2009. The County must submit an adopted FPP to the Agricultural Development and
Farmland Preservation (ADFP) staff by December 1 to be eligible for the next ADFP Trust
Fund grant cycle. A resolution of approval is provided as Attachment 4.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with discussing the report. There is
potential fiscal benefit, in the form of a lessened local match (15% instead of the current 30 %)
for state grant funds, with the adoption of a FPP. This lower local match will apply for both
farmland preservation and agricultural economic development grant projects.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the Agricultural
Development and Farmland Protection Plan, adopt the plan in accordance with the resolution,
and authorize staff to submit the adopted FPP to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services.
In North Carolina the number of farms and
farmland has been steadily declining. 5,500
farms and 300,000 acres of farmland have been
lost since 2003. Since 1990 North Carolina
T' has lost 900,000 acres of farmland and 14,000
farms.
With each loss of an acre, North Carolina loses
products that once contributed to our economy.
North Carolina needs a flexible farmland
conservation program to meet today's
challenges. The NC Agricultural Development
& Farmland Preservation Trust Fund will
$ help secure these farms with grants for
programs that promote sustainable agriculture,
agricultural agreements, and conservation
easements; giving farm businesses the
resources needed to reinvest in their operations.
The flexibility of these funds allows counties
and nonprofits to tailor unique programs to
their area of the state. Each year new ideas and
new problems will face agriculture. The NC
ADFP Trust Fund will be on the forefront of
agriculture during these times of transition.
;f
North Carolina Agricultural
Development & Farmland
Preservation Trust Fund
1001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 -1001
Phone: (919) 733 -7125
Online: http: / /www.ncagr.com
E -mail: ncadfp @ncmail.net
.0•
2,000 copies of this document were printed at a cost of
* Source data provided by USDA. = $134.10 or $.06 per copy.
,r- %9ricuirurai
Deyelopment &
FcaLmland
PpLeseevation
-Crust Fund
"Preserving North Carolinas working family farms"
North Carolina Department of Agriculture
_k & Consumer Services
Steve Troxler, Commissioner
4
In September 2005, the General Assembly passed
House Bill 607 establishing the NC Agricultural
Development and Farmland Preservation Trust
Fund. The legislation also established a 19- member
Trust Fund Advisory Committee to advise the
Commissioner of Agriculture on the prioritization
and allocation of funds, the development of criteria
for awarding funds, program planning, and other
areas for the growth and development of family
farms in North Carolina.
How can the funds be used?
■ Fund public and private enterprise programs
that will promote profitable and sustainable
farms by assisting farmers in developing
and implementing plans for the production
of food, fiber and value -added products,
agritourism activities, marketing and sales
of agricultural products produced on the
farm, and other agriculture- related business
activities.
■ Fund farmland conservation agreements
targeted at the active production of food, fiber
and other agricultural products.
Support the purchase of agricultural
conservation easements, including
transaction costs.
Eligibility
Who is eligible to submit proposals?
-Any nonprofit conservation organization that
matches 30 percent of the Trust Fund monies it
receives with funds from sources other than the
NC Agricultural Development and Farmland
Preservation Trust Fund
All applicants must provide documentation of
membership or status.
Benefits
- Preserving North Carolina's Number 1
Industry: North Carolina agricultural economy
is an over $68 billion business annually. The NC
ADFP Trust Fund plans to sustain this agricultural
economy by preserving the lands that produce
these products for our economy. The success of
the program will maintain farm family income
and retain /create agriculture- related jobs as
well as increase public awareness about the
importance of farm families to North Carolina's
economy.
- Countywide Economic Benefit: An American
Farmland Trust study showed that for every dollar
in taxes received from working land, governments
pay only 34 cents in services. However, services
paid to residential development are an average
of $1.15 per dollar of taxes received. Therefore
farmland is a net gain of revenue for the tax base
and thus an economic benefit for any county to
preserve working lands.
- Quality of Life: When farms are kept in
agriculture it maintains the quality of life that
each North Carolinian enjoys every day. Rural
working landscapes are an integral part of our
heritage and economy that must be preserved
for future generations. If we do not save our
agricultural areas we will destroy the rustic
landscapes that attract and retain people and
industry to North Carolina.
� +R
-An enterprise tier two or three county (G.S. 143B-
437.08) with a countywide farmland protection plan
shall match 15 percent of the Trust Fund monies
it receives with county funds. An enterprise tier
one county (G.S. 143B- 437.08) with a countywide
farmland protection plan will not be required to
match the Trust Fund monies it receives with county
funds. Any county without a countywide farmland
protection plan shall match 30 percent of the Trust
Fund monies it receives with county funds.
Additional Considerations:
Priorities of funds will be given to projects that
involve:
• Counties with Farm Protection Plans
• Goodness Grows farmers
• Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District
farmers
• Voluntary Agricultural District farmers
• Farms with Farm Transition Plans
• Farms with Conservation Plans
• Farms with Forest Management Plans
• Limited - resource farmers
• Beginning farmers
• Groups and individuals with other
agricultural affiliations
All applicants must provide documentation of
membership or status.
Benefits
- Preserving North Carolina's Number 1
Industry: North Carolina agricultural economy
is an over $68 billion business annually. The NC
ADFP Trust Fund plans to sustain this agricultural
economy by preserving the lands that produce
these products for our economy. The success of
the program will maintain farm family income
and retain /create agriculture- related jobs as
well as increase public awareness about the
importance of farm families to North Carolina's
economy.
- Countywide Economic Benefit: An American
Farmland Trust study showed that for every dollar
in taxes received from working land, governments
pay only 34 cents in services. However, services
paid to residential development are an average
of $1.15 per dollar of taxes received. Therefore
farmland is a net gain of revenue for the tax base
and thus an economic benefit for any county to
preserve working lands.
- Quality of Life: When farms are kept in
agriculture it maintains the quality of life that
each North Carolinian enjoys every day. Rural
working landscapes are an integral part of our
heritage and economy that must be preserved
for future generations. If we do not save our
agricultural areas we will destroy the rustic
landscapes that attract and retain people and
industry to North Carolina.
� +R
Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board
Memorandum
To: Board of County Commissioners
From: Roland Walters, Chair, Agricultural Preservation Board
Date: August 18, 2009
Subject: Orange County Farmland Protection Plan
The Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) is pleased to present a draft of the
Orange County Farmland Protection Plan (FPP) for your review and consideration. The FPP
is the result of roughly a year and a half of work and several months of revision.
The APB held two meetings with the other key agricultural advisory boards and their staff- -
the Soil and Water Conservation District Commission, the Farm Services Board of Supervisors
and the Cooperative Extension Advisory Council. Both meetings were well attended and
productive. Comments from the sessions were incorporated into the document and
resubmitted to the three boards to ensure that their thoughts had been accurately captured
and that the final version warranted their support.
Consistent with the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, the FPP builds on the goals and objectives
outlined in the Agricultural Chapter of the Natural and Cultural Systems Element and should
serve as the strategic plan for county agricultural activities for years to come. The adoption
of a farmland protection plan also provides additional funding opportunities through the
Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. (Please see the attached
brochure for more information.)
We welcome the opportunity to answer questions or provide additional information on this
important document.
Thank you for your continued support of this project and your continued support of local
agriculture.
5
Date
Ajk�c�j S
Farmland Protection Plan — Remaining Steps
Description of Step
November 5, 2009 . Plan submitted for BOCC consideration and adoption, resolution of
approval to be included in Plan.
by November 30, . Adopted plan with signed BOCC resolution & APB
2009 recommendation submitted to the North Carolina Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services.
ges - aoo�i- 019 A-4achrneo+ -
RESOLUTION
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TO ADOPT A FARMLAND PROTECTION PLAN
WHEREAS, Orange County has demonstrated a longtime commitment to farmland preservation;
and
WHEREAS, The Board adopted a Voluntary Farmland Protection Ordinance in 1991 which
established the Voluntary Agricultural District Program and created the Agricultural
Districts Advisory Board (now the Agricultural Preservation Board); and
WHEREAS, The Board adopted a Lands Legacy Program in April, 2000 which led to the
permanent protection of more than 2,500 acres of farmland through agricultural
conservation easements; and
WHEREAS, The Board recognized the significance of agriculture in Orange County by
authorizing the creation of a new Agricultural Chapter in the Natural and Cultural
Systems Element of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, The County has sponsored an annual Agricultural Summit for more than ten years;
and
WHEREAS, The County has recognized and supported the business needs of local farmers
through innovative partnership ventures such as the upcoming Piedmont Food and
Agricultural Processing Center and the Breeze Farm Incubator Program; and
WHEREAS, This new Farmland Protection Plan, endorsed by the Agricultural Preservation
Board, Soil and Water District Commission Board of Supervisors, Farm Services
Agency Committee for Durham and Orange counties, and Cooperative Extension
Advisory Council, will serve as the strategic plan for local agricultural needs in
Orange County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby adopt a countywide Farmland
Protection Plan, and commends the Plan to the N.C. Department of Agriculture.
This the 5th day of November 2009.
Valerie Foushee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Attest
Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board
A 4ach m,en+ 5
s
Final Draft
Agricultural Development and
Farmland Protection Plan
Orange County, NC
October 16, 2009
Prepared By:
Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board
With the Assistance of:
Orange Soil and Water District and Board of Supervisors
Cooperative Extension Service — Orange County Office
Farm Services Agency — Orange /Durham Office
Orange County Economic Development Commission
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
10
Agriculture is a vital component of Orange County's economy. Farmers contributed more than
$46,000,000 in gross sales in 2005 and that number continues to increase. Farmers also serve
as the environmental stewards of large areas of open space, protecting natural resources and
wildlife corridors.
9 Orange County was an early leader in North Carolina's agricultural preservation efforts. When
10 the General Assembly adopted the Farmland Preservation Enabling Act in 1986 Orange was one
11 of the first counties to adopt a countywide farmland protection ordinance and today more than
12 2,700 acres are enrolled in the County's Voluntary Agricultural District program.' In 2000,
13 Orange County established the first comprehensive land acquisition program in North Carolina,
14 the Lands Legacy program. Today eleven agricultural easements have been recorded,
15 protecting 1,200 acres of prime and threatened farmland.
16
17 Despite these local accomplishments, many farmers are struggling to make a profit. Agriculture
18 is a changing industry. State and federal regulations are being revised and traditional
19 commodity programs are being phased out. Local farmers are looking for ways to add revenue
20 to their operations. Older farmers are considering retirement; those without a younger farmer
21 to take on the family business may consider selling their land.
22
23 All county residents benefit from local farms. Everyone who eats enjoys the quality
24 and convenience associated with locally grown fruits and vegetables, dairy
25 products, and farm - raised beef, pork and poultry. Everyone who travels along
26 county roads enjoys the scenic vistas retained through tilled fields, pastures and
27 forestlands. Orange County must support efforts to make agriculture and forestry
28 more profitable in order to ensure the long -term survival of local farms and their
29 associated benefits. Success will be dependent on everyone; all residents -
30 conventional farmers, small farmers, and non -farm consumers- -will need to play a
31 role.
32
33 In 2005, the North Carolina General Assembly amended the state farmland protection program
34 to expand the focus. The new Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Enabling
35 Act and the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation (ADFP) Trust Fund supports
36 agricultural development projects such as business planning and incubator programs as well as
37 agricultural easements and other traditional farmland preservation programs. Counties must
38 have an adopted a countywide farmland protection plan to be eligible for preference for
39 Trust Fund monies.
40
41 The following Orange County Agricultural Development and Farmland Protection Plan
42 (FPP) is designed to serve as the strategic plan for local agriculture and forestry for the next
1 In 1986, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Farmland Preservation Enabling Act, which
provided counties with the authority to establish farmland preservation programs including voluntary
agricultural districts (VADs) and agricultural advisory boards. (NCGS §106 -735 et seq.) Orange County
adopted its Voluntary Farmland Protection Ordinance in 1992 and, as of January 2009, thirteen farmers
have enrolled in the program demonstrating a commitment to farming for at least ten more years.
Draft 1012812009 Executive Summary Page i of v
11
1 ten, twenty years and beyond. The FPP contains a statement of the need for action, an
2 overview of local agricultural production and a discussion of challenges and opportunities; some
3 are common trends nationwide, others are unique to Orange County. The plan touches on new
4 issues for the agricultural community such as increasing fuel costs and the potential role for
5 farmers to use and produce alternative energy. The plan also speaks to the value of
6 contributing to the local economy, the health benefits of eating locally grown foods and a
7 renewed interest in food security. Most important, the FPP spells out a vision for the future of
8 local agriculture and a series of action steps to get there.
9
10 Farmers have great marketing opportunities in Orange County: a large regional population base
11 interested in locally grown products and a number of institutional markets including local school
12 systems, universities, and hospitals. Orange County is home to five active farmers markets and
13 ten additional (15 total) farmers markets are located within the greater Triangle region. The
14 County is working in partnership with State and federal agricultural agencies, Cooperative
15 Extension, the Orange County Soil and Water District (and NRCS), and Farm Services Agency to
16 improve agricultural infrastructure. A regional value -added shared use food processing center,
17 modeled after Blue Ridge Food Ventures in Asheville, is underway. PLANT (People Learning
18 Agriculture Now for Tomorrow), a new farm enterprise incubator program, is getting ready to
19 start its second year.
20
21 These are important steps, but there are five key areas where the County must do better.
22
23 1) Orange County must fundamentally change the way it perceives farmland with regard to
24 land use. Prime soils are a finite resource. The County can no longer afford to consider
25 working lands (agricultural or forestlands) as undeveloped. It is crucial that Orange County
26 retains active farming communities, contiguous tracts of agricultural and forestlands, large
27 enough to support agricultural infrastructure.
28
29 2) Orange County must begin to recognize and address the special challenges of conventional
30 farmers. These large acreage farmers are the stewards of our "rural experience." They
31 provide residents with open space and scenic vistas for recreation, such as cycling. Their
32 stewardship protects the county's soil and water resources, recharges groundwater, abates
33 storm water runoff and connects. wildlife habitat. The perception that farmers will always
34 farm and maintain the rural parts of Orange County may be tested vigorously in the coming
35 years as the cost of this stewardship continues to rise. Enrollment in the Present -Use Value
36 Taxation program offers a reduced rate on property taxes on farmland, but not on farm
37 buildings or equipment. The reduced rate on farmland may not be enough to offset a bad
38 crop yield or the loss of a long -time renter who chooses not to lease another year. The
39 impact of residential development, increasing property values and nuisance complaints, has
40 taken its toll. This is an area where the County may need to pursue new forms of
41 assistance to ensure that these long -time farmers are able to stay in business.
42
43 3) Orange County must adopt a more pro - active approach toward attracting new farmers and
44 new farm operations to this region, by advertising for complementary operations, and even
45 offering incentives. The County should expand existing training programs in high schools
46 and work in partnership with local community colleges and the state university system to
47 encourage agricultural students to stay in North Carolina and work on local farms. The
48 County should work with potential farmers to learn more about the types of obstacles they
Draft 1012812009 Executive Summary Page ii of v
12
1 are facing and to provide options (tax assistance, land link programs, community gardens,
2 incubators, etc.) to help overcome those obstacles.
3
4 4) Local officials must continue to educate residents on the indirect benefits of agriculture to
5 the community. In 2006, the American Farmland Trust conducted a Cost of Community
6 Services Study for Orange County and determined that on average, for every $1 in revenue
7 raised by residential development, the County must spend $1.24 on services, compared to
8 just $0.72 cents of services per dollar of revenue raised by farm, forest, or open space.
9 This is a significant difference for a county with traditionally high property taxes due to a
10 strong public school system and small commercial tax base. It likewise supports the use of
11 local funds for agricultural conservation easements, since costs will be recovered in the long
12 run.
13
14 5) Local officials must also begin a dialogue with the municipalities in and adjacent to Orange
15 County regarding agricultural issues. It will become increasingly important for the
16 agricultural community to have an opportunity for input as the towns consider new
17 annexations and new land use regulations, because of the potential for unintended negative
18 consequences on farmers. These are the same farmers who preserve rural character, clean
19 water, clean air, and provide locally grown food.
20
21 Orange County has had great success with its conservation easement program, Lands Legacy,
22 particularly in conjunction with state and federal funding programs, but the best long -term
23 approach for a strong agricultural economy is to strengthen existing farm operations and
24 enhance opportunities for new ventures. The 2005 Carolina Agricultural Development and
25 Farmland Preservation Enabling Act and associated Agricultural Development and Farmland
26 Preservation (ADFP) Trust Fund offers North Carolina counties a new opportunity to develop
27 strategic plans for improving the viability of local agriculture and the potential funding to bring
28 them to fruition. The long -term survival of agriculture in Orange County requires three key
29 components: keeping productive soils in operation, making farming more profitable, and
30 producing new farmers and farm operations. Non - farmers must also understand their role in
31 sustaining the agricultural community. Farmers must be able to make a living off the land.
32 Without economically viable agriculture, much of our rural character and its associated benefits
33 to the community are lost, but with careful planning the growing population can contribute to
34 the future of local agriculture as consumers for locally grown and value -added farm products
35 and as visitors for agritourism.
36
37
38
Draft 1012812009 Executive Summary Page Hi of v
13
Draft 1012812009 Page iv of vi
Executive Summary
Introduction 1
Guiding Principles 5
Overview of Agricultural Activity 7
A. Soil Productivity
B. Agricultural Production & Impact to Economy
C. Farm Land Use Trends & Family Farm Statistics
Challenges to Agriculture in Orange County 15
A. Falling Prices and Low Profitability
B. Regulations
C. Start-up Costs /Lack of Sufficient Money
D. Taxes
E. Residential Growth /Development Encroachment
F. Markets — Connecting Local Producers with Local Buyers
G. Current Trends -- Drought (climate change) and Increasing Energy Costs
H. Lack of interest from young people (aging farm operators)
Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 23
A. Existing Farmland Protection Tools
B. Existing Agricultural Economic Development Programs
C. Potential Programs & Initiatives
D. Agricultural Funding Programs
A New Vision for the Future of Agriculture in Orange County 33
Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 35
A. Protect Farmland as a Valuable Natural Resource
B. Strengthen Farm Viability and the Agricultural Economy
C. Support Farm Operations and the Right -to -Farm
D. Attract and Train. New Farmers and Farming Operations
E. Foster Greater Recognition and Public Support for Agriculture
F. Pursue New Initiatives to Address Increasing Energy Costs & Alternative Energy Needs
Implementation Schedule 45
A. Key Stakeholders and Their Roles in Implementing the Plan
B. Schedule for Action Steps
Authority of County Action
,.
Draft 1012812009 Page v of vi
14
15
Draft 1012812009 Page vi of vi
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Orange County is located in the eastern edge of the
Piedmont region of North Carolina. It was formally
created from parts of Granville, Johnston and Bladen
counties in 1752, and by 1767 it was the most populous
county in the state. Its immense original boundaries
encompassed present -day Orange, Person, Caswell,
Alamance, Chatham and Durham counties, and portions
of Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham and Wake —
approximately 3,500 square miles. Its prominence
during the early settlement period of the state is well
documented. The county seat of Hillsborough served
as the site of the third Provincial Congress (1775) and as a temporary state capital.
Today Orange County is bounded by Alamance, Caswell, Chatham and Durham counties, and
contains approximately 398 square miles (254,720 acres). Hillsborough remains the county
seat but has been surpassed in terms of population by the southern part of the county,
particularly the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Part of the fast growing Triangle area
(population of more than 1.2 million), Orange County has experience dramatic growth within
the past few decades, more than doubling its population from 57,707 in 1970 to roughly
1,221,991 in 2005.2
Location of Orange County in North Carolina.
Agriculture has a long and proud tradition in Orange County, dating back to centuries before
European settlement. It remains an important part of the local economy today. In addition to
direct contributions to the local economy in the form of product sale receipts, expenditures on
farm services and inputs, and employment on farms and farm support businesses, farmers
serve as the stewards of large areas of undeveloped land. This stewardship often represents
decades, and even centuries, of commitment to the land. The farm community protects soil
2 The Triangle includes the state capital, Raleigh, the Research Triangle Park, three major universities -
UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University and NC State University —and more than twenty municipalities.
Draft 1012812009 Introduction 1
16
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
and water resources, recharges groundwater and abates storm water runoff, connects wildlife
habitat, and safeguards the scenic and historic vistas that have defined the county's character.
Local residents and elected officials have long recognized the importance of this cultural and
economic legacy and have sought to protect and enhance it, but pressures on local farms are
intense. Residential development is moving into rural areas at an alarming pace, bringing with
it the potential to compromise rural character, increase public service costs and consume
agricultural lands. Rising land values, nuisance complaints, and impacts from growth- related
public projects such as reservoirs and highways result from encroachment into farming areas.
Coupled with external pressures such as shifts in commodity prices, global competition, and
increased State and federal government regulations, it is exceedingly difficult for farmers to
retain profitable operations. With fewer young people entering agriculture, aging farmers often
see no alternative but to "grow houses" on their land.
Reflecting the concerns of all of their constituents, the Board of County Commissioners renamed
the Agricultural Districts Advisory Board to the Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) in 2000.
The APBs mission is intended to benefit all Orange County residents, not just farmers.3 The
Orange County Agricultural Development and Farmland Protection Plan (FPP)
therefore addresses the interests of three primary "stakeholders."
Conventional or large farms (100 or more acres) with dairy, livestock, and grain crops
that have generally been family farms for several generations. These farms have been
the backbone of agriculture in North Carolina in the past but their number has declined
dramatically due to land and labor costs, an increasingly fragile agriculture
infrastructure, and development pressure on land resources.
Small farms (less than 100 acres). Some of these farmers are raising produce, horses or
livestock on limited acreage and selling to local markets. These farmers represent the
largest increase in agricultural activity in the county.
The non -farm population who benefits aesthetically from Orange County's rural
character, and directly from locally produced food, clean water, clean air, green space,
and rural vistas. It is this segment of the population who has the most to gain from a
strong commitment to preserving our farmlands.
The FPP attempts to describe the challenges of each of these groups and identify specific
programs to encourage agricultural development in response. It offers a vision of what the
farming community should look like in ten years, twenty years and beyond and outlines a series
of action strategies to bring that vision into fruition.
The document has been prepared in partnership with other key agricultural agencies that serve
local farmers — Cooperative Extension, Farm Services, and the Soil and Water Conservation
District/NRCS —and includes a comprehensive coverage of programs for farmers. The adoption
3 Recognizing the importance of agriculture and forestry a new chapter was added to the Orange County
Comprehensive Plan during the recent 2030 update. The Agriculture chapter of the Natural and Cultural
Systems Element (NCSE) provided an important link between agriculture, and land use polices and
related regulations. It also showed the connection between agriculture and local economic development.
Draft 1012812009 Introduction 2
17
18
1 of a FPP will provide Orange County with access to a larger percentage of Agricultural
2 Development and Farmland Trust Fund (ADFP) monies for farm - related programs.
3
4 To facilitate the preparation of farmland protection plans, the state has prepared a model
5 document for use as a template; plans must contain the following seven sections .4
6 1) A statement of the need for action;
7 2) A summary of the county's authority to adopt the plan;
8 3) An overview of the county's agricultural activity, past and present;
9 4) An outline of challenges for the local agricultural community;
10 5) A statement of opportunities for enhancing local agriculture, including programs in place
11 and potential new programs for the future;
12 6) A set of action steps to ensure a more viable agricultural community for the future; and
13 7) A schedule to implement the action steps.
14
15 In order to better represent local needs, Orange County's FPP is organized a little differently
16 and a new section called, "A New Vision for the Future of Agriculture in Orange County" has
17 been added. There are a lot of agricultural programs in the opportunities section of the
18 document. Some are already in place and others could be adopted. But which programs will
19 do the most to help the Orange County reach its agricultural goals? The vision section is
20 designed to help elected officials and agricultural support staffs select and prioritize policies and
21 programs that will work toward shared goals. In addition, by providing a mental picture of
22 what the agricultural community could look like in the future, non - farmers may develop a better
23 understanding of their role as good neighbors and consumers.
24
25 The long -term survival of agriculture in Orange County requires a three - tiered approach. 1)
26 The County must continue efforts to protect productive soils so that they remain available for
27 agricultural and forestry use. 2) Farming in Orange County must become a more profitable
28 venture. 3) New and younger residents must cultivate interest and knowledge in farming to
29 take over as the next generation.
30
31 Some of these underlying themes may seem obvious. Productive soils must remain available
32 for farm and forestry use. Agriculture must become more profitable. As the average age of
33 farmers continues to increase, the future of farming will become more and more dependent on
34 the preparation of another generation. Successful farmers must pass their knowledge on to an
35 apprentice. Existing county programs to train farmers must continue and expand. The non -
36 farm community (consumers) must recognize the value of farms for open space and local
37 foodstuffs, and develop a stronger connection with the farming community. In addition,
38 established farmers may benefit from diversifying their operations — switching from one main
39 cash crop such as tobacco to smaller amounts of multiple crops such as vegetables and
40 specialty products. New farmers (younger or new to farming) must continue to pursue new
41 and innovative forms agriculture, often on smaller amounts of acreage, such as growing organic
42 or greenhouse crops. Orange County is uniquely positioned to pursue opportunities for
43 agriculture created by its affluent, highly educated populace, interested in high - quality farm
44 produce and services. This service- oriented agriculture, while by no means assured, may
45 present the best new market for many farmers.
4 (NCGS §106 -744 (e)(1 -5).
Draft 1012812009 Introduction 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
For conventional farmers dependant on large amounts of acreage there is no simple solution to
offset the costs associated with increasing property values, non -farm infrastructure and public
service fees. New programs in conservation may offer some relief, particularly in combination
with forest management. The County may also wish to enlarge the small business loan
program to provide more funding for start-up fees and diversification ventures, and to explore
new forms of tax assistance.
Ultimately, the success of economically viable agriculture in Orange County is dependent upon
education and understanding between farmers, citizens, and government. The rights and
interests of each should be respected and nurtured. To better understand the obstacles and
stresses on agriculture, and the steps the County can take to reduce them it is helpful to first
understand the history, geography (including the soil resource), economic trends, and
regulations governing farming. It is also important to understand the values and concerns of
the farmers themselves.
Draft 1012812009 Introduction 4
19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
Guiding Principles behind this Plan'
Nine key concepts have been used to guide the preparation of the Orange County Farmland
Protection Plan. These principles, taken liberally from a similar plan in Rensselaer County, New
York, are as follows.
1. Agricultural economic development and farmland protection are interdependent and
should be integrated. Keeping farms viable and protecting the resource base are
essential for farming's continued survival, and they are closely linked.
2. Target agricultural and farmland protection initiatives to protect blocks of viable
farmland.
3. Promote thoughtful land use planning to mitigate conflicts between farmers and
neighbors. Manage residential growth in farming communities; buffer farms from
neighboring large -scale residential developments.
4. Encourage town /county cooperation. There is a strong linkage between rural agriculture
and urban quality of life. Farmland protection efforts require cooperation between
towns and among levels of government. Efforts to promote development in one town
can derail farmland protection efforts in the County and nearby towns.
5. Educate consumers and the general public on the relationship between a healthy local
agricultural economy and the public benefits working farmland provide.
6. Give farmers incentives to protect farmland by providing them opportunities to achieve
fair return for the benefits their stewardship of the land provides the non - farming public.
7. Examine the long -term cost effectiveness of incentive programs that compensate
farmers for not developing their land and keeping it available for current and future
agricultural production. By combining tax, spending and regulatory programs, local
communities can strongly support agriculture and meet budgetary needs.
8. Work to ensure that land use policies and development regulations acknowledge and
work for agriculture. For example, conventional rural residential zoning may harm
agriculture, because it accelerates residential development and converts agricultural
areas into lots that are too small to farm.
9. Strengthen the coalition of interests to support agricultural and farmland protection
efforts. Reach out to non - farmers by supporting existing farmers markets, farm events,
educational festivals that bring together farmers and non - farmers, and other workshops.
Unite the farmland protection interests of farm and non -farm community members by
protecting farmland that provides scenic views, protects critical masses within farm
communities, protects important water resources, or preserves historic landscapes.
5 Adapted from "Keep It Growing: An Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan for Rensselaer County
(New York) ", 28.
v
Draft 10 12812009
Guiding Principles
5
20
1
Draft 10/28/2009
6
21
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Soil Productivity
Orange County's approximately 398 square miles (254,720 acres) consists of mostly rolling
terrain. The county lies across three major water basins: the Roanoke River Basin in the north,
the Neuse River Basin in the northeast and the Cape Fear River Basin in the southeast. The
growing season lasts about 200 days from mid April to late October and usually includes
sufficient amounts of rain during the summer months.
Soils are classified in associations
based on their suitability for different
land uses such as agriculture, forestry,
or residential or commercial
development. This classification
system defines various soils based on
their potential productivity for
different agricultural products as well
as their limitations - -their risk of
environmental damage such as
erosion when they are used for
agriculture and how easily these
limitations can be overcome by
remedial measures. Class I soils
generally have the fewest limitations,
support the widest range of uses, and
carry the least risk of environmental
damage. Class II soils have some
limitations that reduce the range of
potential crops or require moderate
conservation practices. Class III soils
have greater limitations on their range
of potential crops and require special
conservation measures. Class I and II
soils are considered to be "prime"
agricultural soils — soils whose
characteristics make them most suited
to agricultural uses.
Orange County Watersheds
n
Worsheds:
Pratadad Water Supply
Unprutetled Mat, Sipply
Critical Area
River Basin Bwndary
Streams
Municipal Jurisdictions
Almost three quarters of the County's land area consists of soils productive for agricultural and
forestry uses, including 140,630 acres of prime farmland and 58,650 acres of state and locally
important farmland .6 Approximately 34,084 acres or 40% of active and inactive agricultural
lands in the county are on prime agricultural soils. The majority of these quality soils (shown in
dark green) extend across the County in a diagonal pattern southwest to northeast.
6 About 90% of active and inactive farmland in Orange County consists of Class I, II or III soils.
Draft 1012812009 overview of Agricultural Activity
7
22
.c
Oraft -ZOI-2812009
General Soils Map, — Oran
Oran
T_ I-Ou COunty jVotth
Carolina
0
SOR. ASSOCIATIONS
NEARLY
40ph"'I.,
vMPI diaq 'Ie'. SOIL$ ON L.P,
ned .6ciarto". LArvos
.U,faae , Ge
cloy aye, I My starting
Lill O'S'Md Well ahjn and sia';n
vc1av'..
n
j 111p. '14,on-0, sandy I) log, mad., 4nqoA",._ lay joe,.
111as., , lelywe)j, T141nz N...
siltycl-y;ft"I'Voratsil
a', _eI . s,,Ongl
"edel$.r ", silly lay t o-O, an,, "let'
n'Qd non so"Xth
so,f e'-Wy Wei y Onsubtail .",
lay ""a"Id' Oadyleoelt "Plo'c"
a"dstZ.Of9ravtqJ a"dwe0d 0 'ItOngfy
wedo ., I, I V 00a,, an,$ """W�Nh
"e. 1, P and, litantad. "`Alh*�.
cinkin Lou"bu su
of, Od to kao '.9 Qssaj"i.n. asoil ICI
aodv too, Yugo ,,.d so, S�o
4"d �oars, Od 11 thping to sleep
sandY 1."n, t,,&and v at hay, - �"h
6. upla,w, Jay, as.,facety.,
"'- --Ody 0
Get-Ly SLOPI'vG '0 clay.
13'0%ftill 3"EEP
well I
ainod Adoo asl,� LAND
.1 h CenjjV slop.
Plan 'toy 10a, e a swfa.-O
silty clay, '"9 and sl
Bitty , f.dt a aping,
'Oderajej,, av to"", and -
sit' I.., "n, welf d, "' 08q..,
I-V, .,,a 0,,d.subs . h � Condy
riltun,G clavI.,,, -It of " Z " ha,* sipping,
Upland, 4y loan, s 1 4 si"
Soils Old,,,, a I ry cla" aycr
an that ha" ss-lial;.h; a-,,. 141tv
onda,ubs.il. su sl�,'
t*yer of
uOlands I S"`V I V. silly loan, #nd "It dahod
)Q.M an,, aly3j,"ba
GE)vr,Ly sietysil,
UPLAv0SSLOP)IVGrO S7_ RO)VGt y 04,01,
K,hi,e Sic SLOPING SOILS
1, 110ai 00" ON
R"Ifte'. C."tl
41av
'clay I... ?an, Ond "ll d"in" )� s,—pi a
o", !.11tyal.v .sndy,0 saitt'j",
and$ W?y,.y _ama, 1woa
I loam. "U'lso" or
v OILS c, and sandy
No chowwtc, P1.00C 1,
Poorly LAI"
'aye, of its "'ned and latio"
clay and Weft dial NeOr[jy 1.
lie .. -ea, sails �W, Sam
log_;. and clay I I dy loan, that ha, 'What
sandy clay ,,, "'Ont. and an " I subsoil , surface
n*
and -ih od I,.,
nsq"g.japain e , .sand
y
flood gandy
N U. S. OrmARtmeiv
NORT SOIL co 'r
H CAR01 INA OF AQ,
ORANC - SE'COLTLI�E
RICU
E COUN7-Y1 �01 TilitAt EXPFRPWCE,
�I&IFNr
ARD Or cm, _ S rA 77ON
GENE UL *41SSICIVERS
C)RANGPcoulwry SOIL
IV MAP
Overview OfAgrictjltUr
alAcvwty
8
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
Soils from three main associations -- Georgeville- Herndon [5], Georgeville- Herndon -Tatum [6]
and Tatum- Goldston [7] -- are prevalent in this area. These gently sloping and well- drained
soils contain layers of silt loam and clay that make them suitable for most agricultural uses.
Other soil types are located throughout the County in small areas, along drainageways or
ridges. Orange County also contains significant areas of Appling- Helena [1] soils, in the
northwest corner of Cedar Grove Township, the southern section of Bingham Township and in
scattered pockets throughout the county. The Appling - Helena soil type contains layers of sandy
loam and sandy clay. It has good potential for woodland, hay and pasture cover, less for
tobacco, row crops, and truck crops (vegetables.)
Agricultural Production & Impact to Local Economy
For the most part, Orange County's agricultural
legacy is one of small- to medium -size family
farms, where farmers raised livestock and grew
grains and vegetables for their own use. Flue -
cured bright leaf tobacco became the primary
crop in the late nineteenth century, particularly
for the northern part of the county, and it
remained the staple commodity until the federal
tobacco buy -out program a few years ago.'
Approximately 15 farmers still grow tobacco,
primarily in northern Orange County. Sorghum
was raised and processed in the Carr
community, in the extreme northwest part of
Cedar Grove Township during the turn of the
twentieth century. Poultry production was another major source of farm income during the
1920s to 1950s period, particularly after World War II. Local farmers also began to invest in
dairy operations during the 1920s to 1950s, and by the 1980s, Grade A milk had surpassed
tobacco as a source of farm income.
Revenues from almost all of the commodities that traditionally formed the basis of the local
agricultural economy such as tobacco, grains, dairy and beef cattle are on the decline. But
revenues from specialized sectors such as commercial horticulture, fruits and vegetables
(including organics), and equestrian activities are increasing. Other sources of future farm
income will likely come from timber harvesting, forestry, and from the conversion of former
dairy and tobacco operations to feed -based hay production. The transition from traditional
commodity operations to more diverse organic and small -scale sustainable farming is occurring
nationwide.
The following table shows this transition, particularly the shifts in gross value within five
categories highlighted in light green: milk and dairy, tobacco, fruits and vegetables, greenhouse
and nursery, and horses. It is always difficult to get an exact profile of agricultural activity from
census information. Farmers often have to estimate their production quantity and census
7 The Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004 ended the Depression -era tobacco quota program
and established the Tobacco Transition Payment Program (TTPP) also called the "tobacco buy- out."
Draft 1012812009 Overview of Agricultural Activity 9
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
questions can be modified over years to make year -by -year comparisons complicated. The
following table provides a numerical glimpse into the transition. For long -time residents the
transition has been visible; the rural landscape has changed.
Comparison of Gross Farm Value of Agricultural Commodities
Produced in Orange County in 1986 and 1996 and 2005
(Source: Census of Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture)
Farmers are also pursuing new ways to market
their goods, such as farmers markets,
community supported agriculture (CSA)
programs, individual farm stands and pick -your-
own operations. These types of businesses
serve the niche market created from the
growing number of suburban consumers
interested in a farm connection -- supporting
local farm operations and buying local products.
Local farmers have also found success in
agritourism programs such as the annual
Piedmont Farm Tour organized by the Carolina
Farm Stewardship Association.
Draft 1012812009 Overview of Agricultural Activity
10
25
Milkand Dairy Catty _._...
u
!$1],163,4(10, $9;124;112 .
obacco- Fluured ..
w -' $4,334,034, $7,654,629....._
Corn
1$3,500 11$78,200 $241,500
Soybeans
11$421,950 1$201,000 $572,795
Small Grains
11$69,195 11$56,200 $25,915
Potatoes
1$32,700
rFruitS;and Vegetables -
$51,400 .. $266;248: 1,209,382
Greenhouse &,Nursery
$5;310,000 $11;0'80,000 .
Hay & other crops
11$126,585 11$329,000 11$350,000
Farm Forestry
11$539,860
11$2,091,450 11$5,474,000
Hogs
11$1,348,751
1$640,800 $195,600
Beef Cattle
1$1,965,000 1$2,293,950
$6,671,710 7
Poultry & Eggs
11$2,501,800 1$5,699,248
$5,444,000
$546;700 $1;041;9110 $2;23,900
Other
$336,463 $80,901 $217,640
Miscellaneous
$5,300
OTAL GROSS INCOME
$24,534,491
$34,867,638
$46,610,622
Farmers are also pursuing new ways to market
their goods, such as farmers markets,
community supported agriculture (CSA)
programs, individual farm stands and pick -your-
own operations. These types of businesses
serve the niche market created from the
growing number of suburban consumers
interested in a farm connection -- supporting
local farm operations and buying local products.
Local farmers have also found success in
agritourism programs such as the annual
Piedmont Farm Tour organized by the Carolina
Farm Stewardship Association.
Draft 1012812009 Overview of Agricultural Activity
10
25
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
26
Orange County farmers generated over 46 million dollars to the local economy in 2005, but
their indirect contribution was much more. A substantial number of non - agricultural businesses
supply the needs of farmers. These include processors, vehicle and equipment dealers and
other enterprises. Farmers own and must maintain and replace trucks, tractors, and numerous
other pieces of farm equipment and machinery. They purchase petroleum products, animal
feed, seeds and fertilizer. Local farmers also hired farm laborers and in some cases provide
housing for those laborers. The growing equine industry supports specialty tack shops, with
apparel needs for riders as well as related supplies. For these businesses to survive and
prosper, a core critical mass of farmers must be preserved and vice - versa. Though difficult to
measure, these many businesses supporting agriculture account for a sizable portion of the
County's employment base.
Farm Land Use Trends & Family Farm Statistics
Agricultural land use patterns began to change in Orange County during the late 1960s and
1970s as a result of accelerating population growth. New residents moved into the rural parts
of the County and farmland was converted to other uses. The amount of land devoted to
agriculture decreased from 70% in 1950 to 28% in 2002, and the number of farms decreased
from a post -World War II high of over 2000 in 1950 to 631 in 1974. Since the 1970s, however,
the number of farms has remained relatively constant. Of the 71,010 acres land of farmland in
2002, approximately 34,766 acres were in cropland, 22,652 acres in woodland and 8521 acres
in pastureland. Roughly 342 acres of land were enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve
Program and Wetlands Reserve Program.
Draft 1012812009 Overview of Agricultural Activity 11
Orange County Agricultural Lands Trends: 1959 -2002
Source: 1959 -2002 Census of Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture
160,000-
1,600
140,000-
1,400
120,000
1,200
y
100,000-
a
1,000
u
c
80,000
800
60,000—
6tl k
v` 740. f
a^
600
z
40,000
400
20,000
200
0
0
_
1959
1964 1969
1974 1978
1982
1987
1992
1997 2 002
[==Land In Farms
145,96131,55
110,74
87,812
87,344
90,575
81J08167,491
72,673
71,010
# of Farms
11,4181
1,115
895
631
564
1 599
522
F433
577
627
Draft 1012812009 Overview of Agricultural Activity 11
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
The number of local farms grew by 8% from 1997 to 2002. The average farm size dropped
from 156 to 113 acres, but this pattern is consistent with the emergence of smaller farms,
particularly horse farms, as well as goat and vegetable farms, including some organic farms.
These smaller operations use less land and can be a compatible neighbor to residential uses.
Local farmers enjoy an advantage that is rarely available for those in more rural areas of North
Carolina; many Orange County residents, particularly those who live in the municipalities, desire -
locally grown products and are willing to pay a more for them. Many of these same residents
are interested in the larger goals of regional food systems — limiting their food purchases to a
certain radius. Private gardens, community gardens and small to medium -sized farms can go a
long way toward achieving food security. But the enhanced qualify of life provided by farm
vistas will only survive into the next generation if the county is able to retain large areas of
contiguous working farmland. If Orange County is going to preserve its agricultural heritage it
must find the right combination of tools and programs to keep conventional (large acreage)
farms under cultivation, and to encourage smaller farms to work together to protect
communities of active farmland.
As of 2008, the majority of producers in Orange County were still family -owned but in 1992,
only 224, roughly 52% of local farmers considered farming to be their principal occupation.
That figure increased to 356 or roughly 57% by 2002. Despite the increase of 5 %, many farm
families still depend on off -farm employment to offset the low profitability of agriculture and to
provide benefits such as health insurance and retirement pensions. The 2002 USDA Census of
Agriculture reported that 84% of Orange County's 627 farms were owned by individuals or
families. Fifteen of these farms were listed in the North Carolina Century Farm program, a
special program for families who have owned and maintained an active farm for more than 100
years.' Partnerships and family corporations account for 14% of the remaining farms per the
2002 Census.
8 The Orange County farmers include: Elbert H. Allison; N. K. Andrews; Elizabeth N. Blalock, Thomas N.
Blalock, James M. Blalock; J. Fred Bowman, Betty Bowman; Jane M. Branscome, L. M. Merritt, E.
Mangum; Flora Dick Dellinger, Edna Dellinger, Cothran Dellinger, Gene Dellinger; Estelle Haley, Frances
Draft 1012812009 Overview of Agricultural Activity 12
27
1
2 The most substantial burden to family -owned farms, particularly large conventional farms is the
3 costs associated from owning property. The Present -Use Value Taxation program offers some
4 financial assistance to active farmers, but it does not help new farmers buy land nor does it
5 reduce the incentive for retiring farmers to sell their land to non - agricultural interests.
6 According to the Orange County Tax Assessor's Office, 2,666 parcels were enrolled in the
7 Present -Use Value program in 2008— encompassing 109,463 acres, or 43% of Orange County's
8 total land area. Cedar Grove Township, retains the largest percentage of enrollment, despite
9 the being hardest hit by the tobacco buy -out.
10
11
12
13
14
15
H. Griffin, Wade E. Griffin; Katherine L. Kirkpatrick; Floyd Fox Miller; A. Gordon Neville; Ralph Neville
(Heirs): Anne Neville Williams, Jane Neville Hatley, Bryant Neville, Claude Neville; Shelton L. Ray; Richard
Roberts, 011ie Roberts; Bryant 3. Walker; and L. Phillip Walker.
Draft 1012812009 Overview of Agricultural Activity 13
28
Present -Use Value Taxation Enrollment, 2008
18,000
16,000
14,000
12,000
Acres
'
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
Little River
Cedar Grove
Cheeks
Hillsborough
Eno
Bingham
Chapel Hill
ci Homesite
268
550
196
59
141
381
293
® Agriculture
6328
15885
4872
1727
2135
8868
3043
® Horticulture
41
45
36
0
57
22
6
N Forestry
8288
16543
8743
2373
5163
13062
6966
Township
10Homesite
®Agriculture MHorticulture ■Forestry
H. Griffin, Wade E. Griffin; Katherine L. Kirkpatrick; Floyd Fox Miller; A. Gordon Neville; Ralph Neville
(Heirs): Anne Neville Williams, Jane Neville Hatley, Bryant Neville, Claude Neville; Shelton L. Ray; Richard
Roberts, 011ie Roberts; Bryant 3. Walker; and L. Phillip Walker.
Draft 1012812009 Overview of Agricultural Activity 13
28
29
Draft 1012812009 Overview of Agricultural Activity 14
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
30
The enduring vitality of Orange County's agriculture has been, and will continue to be, tested by
competing uses for the land. Once farmland is covered with roads, subdivisions and shopping
centers, it is probably lost to productive agriculture forever. With a growing population to feed
in the coming years, productive farmland should be viewed as an important resource, worthy of
protection, for use in the production of food and fiber.
10 Agricultural Surveys
11 In January 1998, the Orange County Agricultural District Advisory Board (later renamed the
12 Agricultural Preservation Board) and the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District sponsored
13 a countywide agricultural survey. Information from the survey was intended for inclusion in the
14 county's Economic Development Plan as part of a new agricultural component of the strategic
15 plan. 535 copies of the survey were mailed local farmers using the Cooperative Extension
16 Office mailing list. 165 responses were received (31% response). Key findings were as follows:
17 • 50% cited having problems hiring outside the family for labor, mainly because of the
18 inability to offer a competitive wage.
19 • 72% noted an increase of environmental regulations that impacted their operation,
20 particularly related to watershed protection.
21 • 67% noted changes in land use and impact of residential development bordering their
22 property as a challenge, including 25% citing neighbor complaints, mainly, due to odors.
23 • 60% plan to continue farming, but 70% noted more restrictive planning and zoning
24 regulations as the deciding factor to discontinuing the operation.
25 • 20% cited failure to make a profit; chemical and fertilizer costs were the attributed as
26 the largest costs limiting profit.
27 • 38% of farmers reported a making a profit; 35% broke even.
28 • 79% listed participating in the Present -Use Valuation Program.
29 • 70% stated that taxes are a strong factor in profitability.
30 • More than 75% would like to see a reduction in taxes on farm machinery, buildings and
31 residences.
32 0 40% listed interest in Land or Farm Link or Farm Finder program to help young persons
33 interested in entering farming as a livelihood.
34 • 70% were interested in the creation of a farm advocate to represent agricultural
35 interests in local government.
36
37 In February of that same year (1998) Orange County began holding an annual Agricultural
38 Summit. The "Ag Summit" has become very popular over the years with presentations from
39 state and regional experts on new programs and changing regulations, farmers sharing success
40 stories and more recently buyers seeking locally grown products for their businesses. Surveys
41 are also conducted at the end of each agricultural summit to evaluate the year's program and to
42 identify current strengths and challenges within the local agricultural community.
43
44 The most common problems identified in the 2008 Agricultural Summit Survey include:
45 • Falling Prices and Low Profitability
46 • Regulations
47 • Start-up Costs /Lack of Sufficient Money
Draft 20/28/2009 Challenges to Agriculture Is
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
• Taxes
• Residential Growth /Development Encroachment
• Markets — Connecting Local Producers with Local Buyers
• Current Trends -- Drought (climate change) and Increasing Energy Costs
• Lack of Interest from Young People (aging farm operators)
While increasing energy costs and issues associated with drought are new concerns, most of
the other items are familiar to those in the farming community. Many are interrelated. For
example, grown children who choose non -farm occupations leave their aging parents without a
trained heir to take over the operation when it is time for them to retire. Non -farm adults,
interested in pursuing agriculture as a vocation, by contrast, often lack access to productive
lands and equipment that they can afford. Some of the key components of each problem are
summarized below.
Falling Prices and Low Profitability
"Preserving farmland is hard to justify if
farmers still can't make a living on it.i9
Inconsistent commodity prices coupled
with rising costs of production, (such as
the increasing costs of fertilizer), have
resulted in low profitability and
inadequate farm income for farmers
across North Carolina and nationwide.
This affects the farmer's cash flow,
receivables, return on investment, and
incentive and ability to invest in continued
operations, thus making the farmer's hold
on his or her business untenable.
Changes in state and federal subsidy
programs have also impacted traditional farmers.
Regulations
Other common challenges for farmers include the high costs of labor, regulatory compliance
requirements and utility expenses. Local farmers pursuing innovative farm operations may run
into challenges from State and local regulations, particularly local zoning regulations. Orange
County needs to continue to examine and modify regulations that may be unnecessarily
onerous. For example, farm hand housing can become complicated. Orange County currently
limits housing to one primary dwelling unit and one accessory dwelling, no larger than 800
square feet, per lot. Some farmers may be able to reuse or replace existing tenant houses;
others may need to subdivide a large tract to obtain additional dwelling unit allotments. Well
and septic system requirements may likewise increase to accommodate these new residents.
y Sam Bingham, An Agricultural Development and Farmland Protection Plan for Buncombe County,
November 2007, p. 5.
Draft 1012812009 Challenges to Agriculture 16
31
32
1 Farmers inviting the public to their operation as part of agritourism may need liability insurance
2 to protect them from potential visitor injury. Agricultural buildings that are typically exempt
3 from the North Carolina Building Code may become subject to code if they are open to the
4 public. Farmers may need to provide restroom and hand washing facilities, which can translate
5 into larger septic systems and new wells. Food sales may bring other environmental health
6 regulations into play. All of these items can be addressed, but they can take time and may
7 require professionally- prepared construction drawings or site plans. These items- may. seem -
8 tedious but it is important for farmers to comply and when possible exceed requirements to
9 visibly maintain their role as environmental stewards. As residential development begins to
10 crowd traditional farming communities, the installation of proper environmental health
11 measures will become increasingly important to ensure the future compatibility of farms as
12 good neighbors.
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
Taxes
Agricultural Surveys from 1998 to the present day list property taxes as a substantial and
problematic expense for local farmers. 79% of the farmers who responded to the 1998 survey
said that they participated in the Present -Use Value Taxation Program. The tax program is
probably the single most effective program for keeping farms, particularly conventional farms,
in operation and out of development. But the farm tax rate cannot keep pace with the
increasing land costs brought on by residential growth, it cannot help new farmers buy land nor
compete with the incentive for retiring farmers to sell their land to non - agricultural interests.
Property taxes remain a key area where many farmers feel more help is needed. 70% of
farmers stated in the 1998 agricultural survey that taxes are a strong factor in profitability.
More than 75% said that they would like to see a reduction in taxes on farm machinery and
Draft 1012812009 Challenges to Agriculture 17
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
farm buildings. Non - farmers may not understand the magnitude of taxes and insurance costs.
Farm buildings such as poultry houses are not assessed at a farm rate; a new $300,000 poultry
house would be taxed at the same rate as a new $300,000 house. Tractors and other
depreciable field equipment can cost $50,000 - $100,000 or more. In addition to the taxes,
insurance is expensive and may only a percentage of the "value"' of the equipment, not nearly
enough to replace it if necessary.
Residential Growth /Development Encroachment
Growth has produced two major trends: more people and less farmland. Since 1950, Orange
County's population has more than tripled, currently standing at approximately 120,000 people.
The number of residents outside the municipal areas (Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough) has
doubled, and population density has increased from 250 persons per square mile in 1988 to 296
persons per square mile in 2000.10
Growth typically impacts farmers in one or more of the following ways:
1) Property values increase. As suburban development creeps into rural areas land prices
invariably increase; this has been the case in Orange County. Increasing market values
can provide profits to existing property owners, particularly those looking to sell, but
they can close the door on potential buyers. Escalating land prices restrict a farmer's
ability to purchase more land, thus restricting his or her flexibility to change the
agricultural operation or otherwise produce more to increase income. Even successful
farmers often find that they must sell sections of land from time to time to keep the
larger operation solvent.
2) Loss of agricultural services. As farms cease to operate, local agricultural support
businesses often close or relocate, leaving farmers with rising costs due to the lack of an
urgently needed service (such as tractor repair) or the need to travel further for
necessary services adding time and travel expenses to their operation. Feed mills, farm
equipment repair services, large animal veterinary operations may become physically
separated from active farming communities they were designed to serve. Orange
County farmers often have to drive to another county for typical farm services. One of
the most costly services is butchering. Producers who want to sell USDA inspected meat
locally must drive to Matkins in Caswell County or Siler City in Chatham County to have
it processed. Considering the current interest in local and organic fruits and vegetables,
free -range and grass feed meats in Orange County, the lack of processing facilities is
limiting a very potential market. The future opening of a regional processing center,
near Hillsborough, should go a long way toward helping local farmers add value to their
products.
3) Other forms of agricultural infrastructure such as traditional farm road networks can
become disrupted.
Transitioning areas often lead to zoning district amendments. Changing zoning
designations from agriculture or agricultural residential to rural residential may limit or
prohibit the location or expansion of traditional agricultural support services. Impatient
vehicular traffic commuting to work can impede slow- moving farm vehicles traveling
from field to field. Time is a very important asset in agricultural production. The ability
10 U. S. Census Bureau. 2000 Orange County Statistics. Website: www.census.gov
Draft 1012812009
Challenges to Agriculture
18
33
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
to achieve certain goals within certain
windows of weather and season are critical to
successful farming. Often these schedules
are based on the farmer's reliance of
corridors of transportation between fields,
services and markets.
4) Public Services Extension Fees. Occasionally,
new subdivisions develop well or septic
problems and require public service
5)
6)
extensions.
Nuisance Complaints. Affluent properties
owners seeking a rural experience move to the `country" buying large lots and taking
land from production, often with limited regulatory oversight. These new neighbors find
themselves faced with the realities of agricultural production: dust, livestock odors, noise
from machinery, slow moving farm equipment on roadways. Complaints can create a
hostile operating environment, end up in costly litigation, and at worst, can result in
curtailing a farmer's ability to operate his or her farm.
Annexation. As the municipalities in (Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Carrboro) and
adjacent to (Mebane and Durham) Orange County continue to grow, county property
may be annexed, subjecting property owners to different land use regulations.
Annexation can impact farmers in two key ways. First, the property will fall under the
municipality's zoning regulation. Farmers will likely lose the "bona fide farm" zoning
exemption linked to county jurisdiction and may find it more difficult to modify their
operation because of codes that are designed for development. Second, the Voluntary
Agricultural District program is administered by the County; farmers enrolled in the
program may lose their status or have its benefits somewhat curtailed. Orange County
should pursue a memorandum of understanding(s) (MOU) with its neighbors regarding
the VAD program or request that the municipalities adopt their own program.
Markets — Connecting Local Producers with Local Buyers
Farming is a business driven by individual investment decisions; profits are directly linked to
sales. Some local farmers have found success selling direct -- through farm stands and farmers
markets. Other farmers prefer selling at a larger scale, working with wholesale distributors
rather than individual consumers. Large -scale farmers, who sell almost exclusively to wholesale
buyers, tend to suffer more from changes in commodity programs than those who sell directly.
The ability to keep large areas of working lands under cultivation will be dependent on finding
profitable markets for these conventional farmers.
The Internet is becoming an increasingly important tool for local farmers, and compared with
many agricultural counties, Orange is behind the times. Orange County is home to a number of
institutional markets including two local school systems (Orange County and Chapel Hill-
Carrboro), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the UNC -CH Hospital system.
Duke University and its associated hospital are within easy commuting distance. To date,
however, Orange County has been unable to develop the infrastructure (brokering and
cooperative) needed to utilize this substantial food system. If agriculture is to reach the level of
profitability needed to ensure its long -term survival, farmers must tap into this market.
Draft 1012812009 Challenges to Agriculture 19
34
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Current Trends -- Drought (climate change) and Increasing Energy Costs
Like much of North Carolina, Orange County
has experience repeated drought conditions
over the last few years. Extreme weather
can have devastating results for farmers.
Many farmers have had to install new,
deeper wells, and consider new ways to
raise products using less water. Farmers,
who raise dairy cows, beef cattle and other
grazing animals, have had to import feed to
replace lost hay crops. Some farmers have
also had to sell cattle ahead of schedule in
order to limit their losses, which can have
tax implications. The growing horse
industry has likewise had to purchase feed from out of state sources.
associated with transporting this feed has also dipped into profits.
The time and fuel costs
Increasing petroleum demands worldwide have created a challenging environment for farmers
who depend on this fuel source, particularly diesel, to operate farm equipment. Farmers may
wish to consider the use and production of natural fuels and hybrid fuel alternatives to
petroleum -based products as well as the use of other new types of energy. But, like any form
of diversification, farmers need to consider their potential niche before investing too quickly in a
single new crop. The recent production of corn for ethanol, for example, has had a substantial
impact on the larger market since it consumes a valuable food and agricultural product.
Conservation and green energy programs may offer some new opportunities for farmers to gain
revenue from their land with the additional benefit of offsetting some of the carbon dioxide
emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect. To ensure the success of some of these
programs, such as forestry operations, forestry and agricultural support staff will need to
develop educational programs for the public. Too often neighbors complain when farmers cut
down trees even if part of a forest management plan. It will be critical to get the word out,
early and often, that tree cutting is part of forest management.
Lack of interest from young people (aging farm operators
In 2002, the average age of a North Carolina farmer was 55.11 In Orange County, the average
age is 57. 50% of Orange County's farmers are 65 or older compared to just 6% who are
younger than 35. This trend, occurring nationwide, indicates that a large transition will take
place over the next 20 years. With fewer younger farmers available to take over production as
older farmers retire, many local farms may fall out of operation and be divided up and sold
through estate settlement processes. In addition to the loss of active farmland, generations of
farming expertise may be lost, an invaluable asset to the local agricultural economy.
11 Census of Agriculture, North Carolina Table 40, "Tenure and Characteristics of Operator and Type of
Organization: 2002."
Drab 1012812009 Challenges to Agriculture 20
35
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
The long -term survival of local agriculture is dependant on a new generation of trained farmers.
Orange County must develop a better way to attract new farmers, (younger and new to
farming), and new farming operations to the area. Farm related education must go beyond the
classroom and provide hands -on training. While county high schools still have Future Farmers
of American (FFA) programs, ' municipal schools do not. Students who were not raised on a
farm may grow up without any farm - related experiences, even with active farms within a
fifteen - minute drive from their - house. Farming is- simply- not - perceived as a viable career path.
For those students who are interested in farming and have the knowledge to begin, finding
affordable land can be an insurmountable obstacle. Buying land is, for the most part, cost
prohibitive for young people starting out. Finding land to rent is likewise challenging: it is either
too expensive or simply unavailable.
Draft 1012812009
Challenges to Agriculture
21
4.1
Challenges to Agriculture
praf I / 78/7 009
31
22
2
3
4
nkej
5 Growth Equals New Consumers
6 Despite the decline in the number of farms and the amount of farmland in production,
7 agriculture remains an important contributor to the local economy and the growing population
8 can contribute as new consumers. Revenues from sectors that can support development such
9 as nursery products and greenhouses are up. Demands for grass -fed beef and pasture- raised
10 pork and chicken, local and organic produce are also increasing due in part to the influx of new
11 residents. Many Orange County farmers are taking advantage of these new consumers, by
12 changing what they grow and how they sell it. Community supported agriculture (CSA)
13 programs, farmers markets and individual farm stands, and pick - your -own operations have
14 become very popular in Orange County and in the greater Triangle Region. These types of
15 businesses serve a niche market created from suburban consumers, interested in supporting
16 local farm operations and buying local products. Residents desire locally grown goods for a
17 variety of reasons. Some prefer the nutritional benefits of fresh food.12 Others feel a personal
18 commitment toward broader issues of reducing dependency on foreign markets and
iz Studies have shown that practical experience with fresh food (growing and harvesting, eating
seasonally, preserving and cooking) has a positive impact on dietary habits. The 5 -10 day transportation
and storage lag between production and consumption leads to losses of 30 -50% in some nutritional
constituents. Source: Health Benefits of Urban Agriculture, A paper from the Community Food Security
Coalition's North American Initiative on Urban Agriculture, authored by Anne C. Bellows, PhD Rutgers,
The State University of New Jersey, Katherine Brown, PhD Southside Community Land Trust, Jac Smit,
MCP The Urban Agriculture Network. Fresh food may also benefit those with special dietary concerns
such as diabetics and those with food allergies.
Draft 1012812009 Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 23
W
1 contributing to the local economy often summarized in the slogan `think globally, act locally."
2 Still others are looking for a farm connection, a way to teach children where food comes from
3 and an opportunity to experience the sense of community often associated with farming.
4 Equestrian programs such as horse boarding and training facilities provide another niche
5 industry for local farmers based on the suburban community.
6
7
8 Existing Farmland Protection Tools
9 Many of the challenges that local farmers face are not unique to Orange County. The American
10 Farmland Trust and other conservation organizations have spent over twenty years researching
11 different strategies to preserve productive farmland nationwide. Some of these tools require
12 special legislation not available in North Carolina, such as transfer of development rights (TDR),
13 but many are available and are already in use in Orange County.
14
15 State Right -to -Farm Law
16 By statute, North Carolina farmers are granted the right to farm without legal interference from
17 non -farm neighbors and local governing bodies, subject to certain limitations .13 Pre - litigation
18 mediation of farm nuisance claims is mandatory. 14 The County should post information on the
19 Right -to -Farm law in County offices for public information, perhaps in conjunction with VAD
20 maps.
21
22 Present -Use Value Property Tax
23 Working farm, forest, and horticultural lands by state statute are afforded a property tax
24 assessment based on their agricultural working value, as opposed to their industrial or
25 residential development value. Agricultural designation is based on the North Carolina State
26 Use Value Law. The County Tax Assessors Office defines "qualifying" farmland based on certain
27 criteria such as acreage, soil type and use. Agricultural land requires ten acres of cropland and
28 average gross sales of $1,000 per year for the preceding three years. Some smaller tracts of
29 five acres may get use value with certain horticultural crops; forestry use requires twenty acres
30 and a plan on file with the Natural Resources Conservation Service or North Carolina Forest
31 Service. 15 As of 2008, 2,666 parcels were enrolled in the Present Use Value program -
32 encompassing 109,463 acres, or 43% of Orange County's total land area. This assessment
33 affords farmers some amount of cost control that would otherwise limit their ability to farm
34 profitably.
35
36 In July 2008, the NC General Assembly passed a new provision of the Present -Use Value tax
37 program that will expand coverage to properties managed for wildlife and conservation use.
38 This may enable farmers to place additional lands not cultivated into Use Value, providing
39 additional tax relief. Some farmers may also wish to explore complementary programs to
40 supplement their income as part of a wildlife management program. Hunting clubs, for
41 example, will often pay an annual fee in exchange for the opportunity to hunt on farms of a
42 certain acreage.
43
44 The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) may also create new programs
45 for farmers related to energy - -its production and its use. Information on funding is not yet
13 NCGS §106 -700 et seq.
14 NCGS §7A -38.3.
" NCGS §105- 277.2.
Draft 1012812009 Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 24
40
1 available, but alternative energy programs will only become more important as all nations
2 pursue strategies to reduce global warming. Orange County officials and farmers alike will want
3 to learn about these opportunities as soon as they become available. (See more information
4 under the Federal Conservation Funding Tools section of the FPP.)
5
6 Orange County Comprehensive Plan
7 Orange County adopted a Land Use Plan (later the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive
8 Plan) in 1981. The efforts of several agricultural task forces were summarized in the 1981
9 effort and were enhanced in the 1980s as the County began exploring the potential for
10 agricultural conservation easements and an agricultural preservation program. Subsequent
11 amendments reflected the creation of the Voluntary Agricultural Districts program in 1992. A
12 countywide quality growth plan in the late 1990s, Shaping Orange County's Future, also
13 included recommendations for agriculture.
14
15 Orange County just finished a two -year effort to update the Comprehensive Plan. Agriculture
16 has risen to the status of its own chapter, now within the Natural and Cultural Systems
17 Element. The Economic Development Element also speaks to agricultural issues in the form of
18 marketing and business strategies for individual farmers and cooperative ventures. Strategies
19 to protect farmland through the development process are included in the Land Use Element.
20 While the 2030 Comprehensive Plan was adopted in November of 2008, the County still needs
21 to work with municipalities to encourage them to protect agriculture and forestry within their
22 planning jurisdictions. The protection of agriculture, horticulture and forestry should be
23 included within municipal land use plans, and municipalities should be encouraged to adopt
24 Voluntary Agricultural District ordinances to cover land within municipal boundaries.
25
26 Flexible Development
27 Sometimes farmers strategically sell a section or sections of land in order to retain the larger
28 complex. Flexible development standards were adopted in 1996 to preserve important natural
29 and cultural features, including scenic views and active farmland. The flexible development
30 design can provide an opportunity for farmers to sell or develop sections of their property in a
31 manner that is more compatible with the farm use. Prime farmland and prime forestland must
32 be identified as part of concept plan submittal, and at least 33 percent of such resources must
33 be set aside as conservation areas. County staff and some local developers are exploring the
34 possibility of leasing some or all of the 33 percent of open space for farm use. In 2006 the
35 County adopted amendments to reduce density and increase lot sizes in the rural sections of
36 the County to ease development pressures and nuisance related issues between existing
37 farmers and new residents.
38
39 Voluntary Agricultural District Program
40 In 1986, the North Carolina General Assembly enabled counties to adopt Voluntary Agricultural
41 District (VAD) ordinances to effectively create areas "to increase identity and pride in the
42 agricultural community and its way of life and to increase protection from nuisance suits and
43 other negative impacts on properly managed farms. ,16 Farmers, who enroll their farm in a VAD
44 enter into a revocable agreement with the county to forego developing their land for a period of
45 ten years and, in exchange, enjoy certain protections of their operation, including a waiver of
46 sewer and water assessments, recorded notice to non -farm neighbors of their proximity to a
16 North Carolina General Statutes §106 Article 61.
Draft 1012812009 Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 25
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
farming operation, and public hearing before
condemnation of farm property by eminent
domain. On March 24, 1992, Orange County
passed a VAD ordinance to implement a
voluntary farmland protection program with the
associated incentives and protection measures.
Also pursuant to the ordinance, an Agricultural
Districts Advisory Board was appointed by the
Board of County Commissioners to represent
agricultural interests in the county. 17 This board
was renamed the Agricultural Preservation
Board in 2000. While the VAD ordinance
encourages investment in agriculture, it does
not represent a permanent land protection
measure; districts rely heavily on voluntary
enrollment and the program allows for
withdrawal.l$ As of January 2009, thirteen
farmers had enrolled more than 2,700 acres in
the VAD program -- demonstrating a commitment
to farming for at least ten more years. The
County should continue to look for ways to
make this program more visible; posting
Voluntary Agricultural District Maps in key office
buildings such as the Register of Deeds and the
Planning and Inspections Department would be an easy way to
of participating farms.
notify residents of the location
Agricultural Conservation Easements
The North Carolina Farmland Preservation Enabling Act outlines provisions for counties to
purchase agricultural conservation easements on qualifying farmland with the voluntary consent
of the landowner. A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a
landowner and a land management agency that limits some of the owner's uses of the property
in order to achieve conservation purposes. It is an individually tailored legal agreement by
17 NCGS §106 -735, outlines provisions for voluntary agricultural districts. NCGS §106 -739 outlines the
authority the county may confer on it. The Board may have the authority to: 1) Review and make
recommendations concerning the establishment and modification of agricultural districts; 2) Review and
make recommendations concerning any ordinance or amendment adopted or proposed for adoption
under this Article; 3) Hold public hearings on public projects likely to have an impact on agricultural
operations, particularly if such projects involve condemnation of all or part of any qualifying farmland; 4)
Advise the board of county commissioners on projects, programs, or issues affecting the agricultural
economy or way of life within the county; and 5) Perform other related tasks or duties assigned by the
board of county commissioners.
18 Participants sign an agreement with the County, filed with the Orange County Tax office and the local
office of Natural Resources Conservation Service of the USDA. A landowner may withdraw from the
program, however, by submitting written notice to the Board of County Commissioners. In 2005, the
County reduced the minimum farm size for participation in the VAD program from 80 acres to 20 acres
and divided the County into seven districts: Cedar Grove, High Rock/Efland, Cane Creek/Buckhorn, White
Cross, New Hope, Schley /Eno and Caldwell. (See Map) Instead of designating each farm as its own
individual district, participating farms are now assigned to a district based on location.
Draft 1012812009 Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 26
41
1 which a property owner typically conveys development rights in return for tax credits or
2 compensation (payment), while still holding ownership of the land. The value of the easement
3 is determined based on the market value of the development rights. Farmers would be free to
4 use this payment for any purposes they choose: retirement investment, capital improvement,
5 etc. Payment options could include lump -sum payment or annual payments over a set period.
6
7 In April 2000, Orange County created the Lands Legacy Program to protect the most important
8 natural and cultural resource lands in the County, working in collaboration with other like -
9 minded agencies. One of the five areas of focus for Lands Legacy is farmland preservation,
10 through the acquisition of agricultural conservation easements. The County has recorded 11
11 agricultural easements since the program was adopted, protecting 1,200 acres of prime and
12 threatened farmland. In so doing, the County has partnered with the USDA Farm and
13 Ranchland Protection Program, the NC Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (2001), and other
14 grant and conservation agencies. During the eight years of this program, over $2.3 million of
15 federal and State grants have been leveraged for farmland easements. The provision of $3.0
16 million in local funds by the Orange County Board of Commissioners has enabled these grants
17 to be received. One agricultural easement has been donated, along with a portion of a second,
18 for conservation tax benefits.
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43.
44
45
46
47
48
In other areas around the country this type of program has been funded through municipal and
county bond issues, a percentage of real estate transfer tax or mortgage tax revenues, or as a
regular budget line item. Agricultural easements are drafted to offer farmers maximum
flexibility to continue to profitably work their land, and change their operation as their needs
dictate, as long as they meet the requirements of state law regarding the purpose of
agricultural conservation easements, and the provisions of the easement itself.
Existing Agricultural Economic Development Programs
As of 2008, Orange County is home to five active farmers markets
and ten additional (15 total) farmers markets are located within
the greater Triangle region. Local markets include: Orange
County Farmers' Market, the Hillsborough Farmers' Market, the
Chapel Hill market sponsored by A Southern Season on South
Estes Road, the market at Southern Village in Chapel Hill, and the
Carrboro Farmers' Market. The Carrboro Market, known
throughout the nation, just celebrated its 30 -year anniversary.
Hillsborough residents have long enjoyed small -scale markets in
the connecting parking lots behind some of the historic buildings along Churton Street, the main
downtown corridor. Last fall, Orange County unveiled its new Public Market House, an open
pavilion space to host the Orange County farmers' market and to provide assembly space for
various outdoor functions. The Public Market House was constructed in part with state grant
funds. All five markets are open on Saturday mornings and typically Wednesday evenings.
Many local farmers also sell their wares at the farmers' market in downtown Durham, and the
Saxapahaw market in Chatham County.
PLANT (People Learning Agriculture Now for Tomorrow), a new farm enterprise
incubator program, is getting ready to start its second year. A joint project between the
Draft 9012812009 Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 27
42
43
1 Cooperative Extension Service and Orange County, PLANT teaches small -scale sustainable
2 farming techniques, including business planning, with a focus on vegetable production.
3 Students, who attend the evening workshops, complete a business plan and field crop plan
4 have access to a 1/4 —acre plot on the W.C. Breeze Family Farm Extension and Research Center.
5 Colonel William C. Breeze and his family donated their substantial farm to North Carolina State
6 University's College of Agriculture and Life Science in the spring of 2006 for use as a farm
7 training center and demonstration crop facility. Though still in the development stages, this
8 multi -field complex should become an invaluable resource for Orange County farmers.
9
10
11 Potential Programs & Initiatives
12 In 2005 the General Assembly amended the 1986 Farmland Preservation Enabling Act to include
13 an economic development component. Renamed the Agricultural Development and Farmland
14 Preservation Enabling Act and the Agricultural Development and Farmland Trust Fund, this new
15 legislation established a new category of districts called Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural
16 Districts (EVAD). The new districts offer additional benefits for farmers, who sign an irrevocable
17 conservation agreement for at least ten years.19
18
19 Agricultural Support Enterprises
20 The Planning Department, Economic Development Commission, Cooperative Extension, Soil and
21 Water District Commission and Environment and Resource Conservation Department staffs have
22 been working together to examine County regulations regarding farm related uses that are
23 outdated or unnecessarily onerous. Proposed is a series of amendments to the Zoning
24 Ordinance that better accommodates the needs of farmers looking for ways to diversify and
25 generate more income. The amendments target uses that provide farmers with supplemental
26 revenue from agricultural products, businesses that are logical extensions of farm operations,
27 and services related to agriculture. Permitting would be based on the intensity of the use. A
28 new agricultural support enterprises manual (users guide) is also being proposed to make the
29 application process more user - friendly.
30
31 Piedmont Value -Added Shared -Use Food & Agricultural Processing Center
32 From June to November 2007, Orange County contracted with Smithson Mills of Mars Hill
33 College to conduct a feasibility study on establishment of a regional shared use food and
34 agricultural processing center serving Alamance, Chatham, Durham, and Orange counties. The
35 results from this study indicated that the region had sufficient demand for the development of a
36 regional facility with a wide range of food processing equipment and the potential for future
37 expansion. The report listed a number of components that would be key to the success of the
38 center, particularly business development support and education. The study also included an
39 analysis of the building and site requirements for the type of processing center recommended.
40 A county-owned property, near Hillsborough, with an existing large warehouse -type building
41 was identified as a potential site for the processing center. The County is pursuing grant
42 funding to begin the development process for this collaborative venture. The ability to combine
43 small amounts of raw product from individual farmers into large volumes maybe the linchpin to
44 finally to tap into the local institutional market.
19 Orange County is reviewing the additional benefits linked to the EVAD program and will likely pursue
another amendment to its ordinance to provide for this new type of district.
Draft 1012812009 Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 28
44
1
2 Local Food for Local Consumption —A Local Food System
3 A lot has changed from the days when local farmers were, for the most part, self - sufficient.
4 Today's food often travels thousands of miles from farm to processing facility to grocery store
5 to table. One of the impacts of increasing petroleum prices is the added cost of transporting
6 food, a cost that shows up at the grocery store. Researchers at Cornell University have coined
7 terms such as °foodshed" and "foodprint" to reference the amount of land needed to feed the
8 average individual. Many individuals are trying to become "localvores" or "locavores" meaning
9 that they eat primarily locally grown foods — fruits and vegetables, dairy and meats.
10
11 All residents should have an appreciation of where their food and other agricultural products
12 come from, and the nutritional benefits of eating local foodstuffs. The benefits of eating locally
13 are numerous. Food products tend to lose nutritional value during transport; the longer the
14 journey the greater the loss. Studies have also shown that people who try to learn about the
15 source of their food (through a direct farm connection) and eat seasonally tend to eat healthier.
16 Buying locally puts money back into the local economy; buying directly from farmers markets
17 and farm stands sends money directly to the farmer. Orange County must continue to spread
18 the word about the importance of buying locally grown products and develop a benchmark
19 system to measure progress. The County should also be involved in efforts to create a regional
20 sustainable food network, whereby local residents consume 10% locally grown and produced
21 products in five years and work to increase the percentage in the future. The County could aid
22 in this effort by buying locally grown and produced items for county- sponsored events and
23 meetings.
24
25
26 Agricultural Funding_ Programs
27 State Conservation Funding Tools
28 There are several state agencies that help to provide funding and technical assistance for
29 farmland protection. Among these are:
30
31 1. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. In 2005 the North
32 Carolina General Assembly amended the Farmland Preservation Enabling Act and
33 associated trust fund and created the Agricultural Development and Farmland Trust
34 Fund (ADFP). The amendments broadened the mission of the trust fund to include
35 three grant priorities:
36 0 Conservation easements (permanent easements);
37 0 Agricultural easements (term easements); and
38 0 Sustainable or viable agricultural programs.
39 These monies, when available, can be matched with certain federal funds described
40 below. The ADFP is administered by the Department of Agriculture or its designee.
41 Orange County received funding for an agricultural conservation easement from this
42 source in 2001.
43
44 2. _Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The North Carolina CWMTF is a voluntary,
45 incentive -based water quality program to help local governments, state agencies and
46 conservation non- profit groups finance projects to protect and restore surface water
47 quality. Farm and forest land owners are eligible to receive trust fund monies for sale of
48 the development rights to their land under certain guidelines and qualifications. These
Draft 1012812009 Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 29
45
1 funds can be combined with certain federal conservation funds listed below.20 As of
2 December 2008, Orange County has applied for and received $520,000 in grant funds
3 from the CWMTF for its Lands Legacy Program.
4
5 3. Division of Soil and Water Conservation Agricultural Cost - Share. This program is
6 administered by the Division of Soil and Water Conservation in the Department of
7 Environment and Natural Resources. It is delivered at the local level by 492-elected and
8 appointed volunteer District Supervisors who are assisted by a cadre of experts.
9 Participating farmers receive 75% of predetermined average costs of installed best
10 management practices (BMPs) with the remaining 25% paid by farmers directly or
11 through in -kind contributions. Some applicants may be eligible to receive as much as
12 $75,000 per year. Also the program provides local Districts with matching funds (50:50)
13 to hire personnel to plan and install the needed BMPs, including Riparian Buffers, Strip
14 cropping, and Grassed Waterways.21 In the last four years, funding assistance in the
15 amount of $450,000 has been provided through this program to Orange County farmers.
16
17 4. Natural Heritage Trust Fund. Like the FPTF and CWMTF, this fund may be available to
18 purchase development rights on properties with outstanding natural or cultural values."
19
20 5. North Carolina Conservation Tax Credit. North Carolina law allows a credit against
21 individual and corporate income taxes when real property is donated for conservation
22 purposes. Interests in property that promote specific public benefits may be donated to
23 a qualified recipient. Such conservation donations qualify for a substantial tax credit .23
24
25 Federal Conservation Funding Tools
26 The adoption of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), marks a shift
27 in agricultural policy. The new Farm Bill outlines provisions for more effective and efficient
28 programs for land conservation and commodity support as well as a new focus toward food
29 security and nutrition needs, renewable energy. As part of its detailed analysis, the American
30 Farmland Trust (AFT) identified five key components in the new Farm Bill:
31 • Strengthened conservation and farmland protection programs.
32 • An improved government safety net that "is better for farmers and less costly for
33 taxpayers.
34 • Support for local foods, farmers markets and healthy diets.
35 • Funding for renewable energy to advance environmentally responsible energy
36 production.
37 0 Dramatic increases in food assistance for families struggling with rising food costs.
38
39 The AFT has also prepared a series of fact sheets, one on each of the fourteen Farm Bill Titles
40 listed below.24 Funding for the 2008 Farm Bill is still under consideration. Programs in forestry
20 GS § 113 -145.1 et seq. More information on the fund is available at www.cwmtf.net .
21 Other program summaries that assist farmers in controlling non -point source runoff are available at
www.enr.state.nc.us /DSWC .
22 NCGS §113 -77.7.
23 Consult NCGS § §105 - 130.34 and 105 - 151.12 for the specific requirements of the CTC Program. For
more information see www.enr.state.nc.us/conservationtaxcredit.
24 www.farmiand.org/programs/farm-bill/`analysi & http://aciriculture.house.gov/inside/FarmBill.htmi .
Draft 1012812009 Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 30
46
1 and conservation may be of particular interest Orange County's conventional farmers looking for
2 new ways to make their land profitable.
3
Food, Conservation and Energy
Act of 2008, Farm Bill Titles
• Title I Commodity Programs •
Title VIII
Forestry
• Title II Conservation •
Title D(
Energy
• Title III Trade •
Title X
Horticulture and Organic Agriculture
• Title IV Nutrition •
Title XI
Livestock
• Title V Credit •
Title XII
Crop Insurance
• Title VI Rural Development •
Title XIII
Commodity Futures
• Title VII Research •
Title XIV
Miscellaneous
4
5
6 A number of other programs are already available to local farmers. The following list includes
7 some of the voluntary federal programs that are administered by the Natural Resources
8 Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Services Agency (FSA) of the United States Department
9 of Agriculture (USDA) support staff. They are designed to compensate farmland owners for the
10 conservation value of their land. Like local conservation easement programs, they have the
11 dual effect of safeguarding the environmental benefits of farmland as open space while
12 injecting dollars into the local economy via the farmland owner.21
13 1. Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP). The Farm and Ranchland Protection
14 Program provides federal funds to help purchase development rights, keeping
15 productive farmland in agricultural use while compensating the farmland owner for the
16 conservation value of his or her land. The FRPP program matches state and local
17 agricultural conservation easement programs up to 50% of the easement purchase
18 price, working through state, tribal and local governments and land trusts. Orange
19 County has received $2.3 million in grants from FRPP since 2002 for the acquisition of
20 10 easements.
21
22 2. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The Conservation Reserve Program reduces soil
23 erosion, protects the nation's ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in
24 streams and lakes, improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances
25 forest and wetland resources. It encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland
26 or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native
27 grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filter strips, or riparian buffers. Farmers receive an
28 annual rental payment for the term of the multi -year contract. Orange County farmers
29 have received $57,471 during the last four years from this program.
30
31 3. Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREPT. CREP is a voluntary program that
32 seeks to protect land along watercourses that is currently in agricultural production. The
33 objectives of the program include: installing 100,000 acres of forested riparian buffers,
34 grassed filter strips and wetlands; reducing the impacts of sediment and nutrients within
35 the targeted area; and providing substantial ecological benefits for many wildlife species
36 that are declining in part as a result of habitat loss. Under CREP, landowners can
25 For more program information and legislative authority, see
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002
Draft 1012812009 Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 31
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
voluntarily enroll eligible land in 10 -year, 15 -year, 30 -year, and permanent contracts.
The state will pay additional bonuses to landowners who enroll land in 30 -year and
permanent agreements. Cost sharing will be available for installation of forested
riparian buffers, grassed filter strips, wetlands restoration practices, water control
structures, livestock exclusion, and remote livestock watering in order to increase the
efficiency of enrolled practices. The program is currently available to property owners
with land in the Neuse, Tar- Pamlico and Chowan river basins and the Jordan Lake
watersheds.26
4. Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). The Wetlands Reserve Program offers landowners
the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The NRCS
provides technical and financial support to help landowners with their wetland
restoration efforts. The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and
values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the program. The
WRP offers landowners three options: permanent easements, 30 -year easements, and
restoration cost -share agreements of minimum 10 -year duration.
5. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EOIP). This program provides a source of
funding for nutrient management systems. The program offers technical, financial, and
educational assistance in designated priority areas to install or implement structural,
vegetative, and management practices called for in five to ten year contracts for most
agricultural land uses. Orange County farmers received $360,000 from this program
over the last four years.
6. Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). This program encourages creation of high
quality wildlife habitats that support wildlife populations of national, state, tribal and
local significance by providing technical and financial assistance to landowners and
others to develop upland, wetland, riparian, and aquatic habitat areas on their property.
There are numerous other training and cost -share programs administered by the Cooperative
Extension Service staff, Soil and Water Conservation District staff. Agriculture support staff also
provide training to local farm groups such as the Cattleman Association, Farm Bureau and
others. These programs should be continued and when possible expanded.
26 CREP is listed here under federal programs, although it is partially funded by Clean Water Management
Funds and administered by North Carolina Division of Soil and Water Conservation.
Draft 1012812009 Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 32
47
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
What if Agriculture became Orange County's largest industry again ?"
What if Orange County actively promoted the value of agriculture to keep the public aware of
the farm sector? What if local residents began to think of farm fields and forestland as
"working lands" rather than undeveloped land? What if residents began to acknowledge
farmers as the stewards of these finite natural resources, and as the innovative small
businessmen and women that they have been for generations? What if land use regulations
allowed more flexibility to accommodate the unusual needs of agricultural businesses? What if
officials considered the unintended consequences changes to development codes in Orange
County and its municipalities might have on farmers, prior to making decisions.
If the new Piedmont Regional Value -Added Processing
Center became the linchpin for farmers to finally break into
local institutional markets, then local children would know
what's in season by what's in their school lunch. The
processing center would provide the foundation of Orange
County's agricultural infrastructure. It would help small
farmers combine their individual harvests into larger units
capable of meeting the demands of cafeterias. The
County would hire a broker to ensure that farmers were
growing the right amount of the right crops. Farmers
would start using greenhouses to grow produce during the
off season to meet year -round needs; they would be more
because they would know that there was a market waiting.
more of a self - serving facility to help farmers connect with
and roadside stands.
comfortable trying something new
The Piedmont Center would remain
area restaurants, farmers markets
If agriculture became profitable again, all residents, particularly cyclists and distance runners
could enjoy the dairy farms along Dairyland and Orange Grove roads well into the future. The
farm communities, the northeast part of the county such as Schley and Caldwell could also see
a renewed interest in agriculture and forestry. Small crossroad stores would return to their
former status as community centers. A large -scale farm supple store would return to Orange
County because there would be a market for their goods, and in exchange, farmers would be
able to buy their supplies in their community. The county would also evaluate the need for
abattoirs, family meat processing facilities that meet USDA requirements. New forms of tax
assistance would help conventional farmers stay in business and help those farmers ready to
retire to have more options, more ways to keep the land that they love in production, while
providing for their children's future and their own health needs.
Z' More likely agriculture would become the third highest sector to the local economy, after the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University Hospital system and local government: Orange County,
the municipalities and the associated public school systems.
Draft 1012812009 A New Vision for the Future of Agriculture in Orange County 33
48
M91
1 What if farmers in the northwestern part of the County, who have suffered from the decrease in
2 tobacco production, were able to find new crops that would flourish in the clay soil and allow
3 that area to become an active agricultural community, again? What if new energy crops were
4 able to replace tobacco as profitable commodities? The main crossroads at Cedar Grove and
5 Carr could become active again as farmers could sell some produce to the historic general
6 stores and buy practical items such as milk and eggs and farm supplies. The community
7 garden program at the Methodist Church might become one of several community gardens
8 located throughout the county for non - farmers, where non -farm residents could grow fruits and
9 vegetables for their own use. What if the existing commercial node, at the intersection of NC
10 49, Carr Store and Corbitt Ridge roads, in Carr was developed into another agricultural
11 processing center and provided off- season employment for farmers. The Carr facility could be
12 designed to accommodate the processing needs of large -scale conventional farmers, and might
13 include alternative energy production such as biofuels to service farm vehicles.
14
115 What if public schools were equipped with commercial kitchens to prepare food from scratch?
16 The older schools and agricultural facilities such as the granges would have commercial kitchens
17 to encourage training sessions on canning and freezing techniques. Children would learn where
18 their food comes from as part of their regular curriculum. The Future Farmers of America (FFA)
19 program would be available to all high school students. Internships would be a requirement for
20 students interested in pursuing farming as a career. The Durham Technical Institute campus
21 would include programs in agriculture and forestry. The County could set up a mechanism to
22 help link "would be" farmers find land to lease and eventually buy.
23
24 All of these things are within reach, but success will be dependent on all residents-
25 conventional farmers, small farmers and non -farm consumers. Everyone will need to play a
26 role.
27
28 The future of Orange County agriculture calls for:
29
30 A Broad, Holistic Definition of Farming;
31 Where Agriculture becomes an Integral Part of the Economy;
32 Where People Who Want to Farm, Can Farm;
33 Where Sufficient Farmland is Conserved and Available for Production;
34 Where Mechanisms are in place to Link Would -be Farmers, Consumers and Farmland;
35 Where Local Food is available for Local Consumption; and
36 Where Children are Taught about the Connection Between Food and Farming.
37
38
Draft 1012812009 A New Vision for the Future of Agriculture in Orange County 34
1
2
3
4
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
The long -term survival of agriculture in Orange County requires a three - tiered strategy:
1) The County must continue efforts to protect productive farmland soils so that they
remain available for agricultural and forestry use;
2) Farming must become a more profitable venture; and
3) New and younger residents must cultivate interest and knowledge in farming to take
over as the next generation.
While it appears easy at first glance to separate these components into three distinct categories
they are really tightly interwoven. The following outline offers one approach at organizing
these concepts into a "laundry" list format than can be linked to a schedule for future
implementation.
Protect Farmland as a Valuable Natural Resource
Farmland is an irreplaceable physical, cultural, and economic asset. Land conservation
programs such as permanent easements and term easements offer one approach toward
keeping working lands in production and out of development. With a growing population to
feed in the coming years, productive farmland should be viewed as an important resource
worthy of protection.
1. Continue the existing Agricultural Conservation Easements Initiative as part of the Lands
Legacy Program.
2. The County should consider "working farmland" agricultural conservation easements.
Agricultural conservation easements are typically designed to remove some of the
development rights associated with a parcel, which can reduce property taxes by decreasing
the market value of the tract. Easements, however, are not typically designed to require a
use, such as farming, to continue. Orange County may wish to explore the use of additional
provisions to county- sponsored easements that would arrange for a percentage of land in
an agricultural easement to remain in farm or forestry use.
3. Promote the idea of leasing conservancy lands for agricultural use.
Orange County has enjoyed success in conserving lands through easement programs
sponsored by the county and non -profit land conservancies. The County has also acquired
several tracts of former farmland for use as future parks. Some of these lands may be
suitable for agriculture and forestry uses through a lease program, where landless farmers
could rent tracts for the short-term (one season) or long -term (several seasons).
Participants could be selected from a lottery or selected after graduation from an
agricultural training program. The County's partnership with the North Carolina State
University in the Breeze Farm Incubator Program (PLANT) demonstrated the potential of
these types of programs. Those who completed coursework and prepared a business plan
were provided with garden plot. This model could work on other sites throughout the
Draft 10/28/2009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 35
50
1
2
3
4
5
6
7:.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
county. Community gardens serve as a variation of this idea, but are intended to provide
non - farmers an opportunity to grow flowers and vegetables for family use.
4. Continue to promote the Voluntary Agricultural District Program as part of the Voluntary
Farmland Protection Ordinance and amend the ordinance to provide for the designation of
Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts.
5. Identify agricultural priority areas, and areas of contiguous prime and active agricultural and
forestlands for protection as "communities "
The conservation of "critical mass" bolsters the likelihood of success for farm - oriented
communities and enhances the opportunities for inter -farm collaborative marketing.
6. Encourage Local Land Use Policies that Support Agriculture and Protect Farmland.
How a county plans for growth will greatly impact the viability of its agricultural economy.
Orange County should develop policies, which take into consideration agricultural production
and development. The Planning Board should include input from the Agricultural
Preservation Board (or similar committee) in the planning process. Such policies and
actions can include:
a. Incorporate elements of this plan in the Comprehensive Plan. Accomplished!
b. Offer officials and landowners training in smart growth techniques and infrastructure
planning.
c. Develop model zoning and subdivision ordinances or principles and distribute to towns
for use in their local planning and zoning.
d. Tailor zoning ordinances and subdivision regulations to guide growth away from
farming areas and buffer farms from neighboring land uses.
e. Require buffers between residences and farm fields and buildings as part of new
residential subdivisions.
f. Implement development guidelines that include soil classifications as criteria for
prioritizing agricultural' land.
g. Develop memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with municipalities and neighboring
counties to promote preservation of land for agriculture, horticulture, and forestry, and
to promote agriculture, horticulture, and forestry as an element of regional economic
development.
7. Encourage the County and Towns to Meet the Infrastructure Needs of the Farm Sector
through Appropriate Zoning and Subdivision Regulations.
a. Adopt Sensible Zoning and Subdivision regulations.
Continue to examine zoning regulations that may impede the efforts of rural property
owners to supplement their income. (An Agricultural Support Enterprises program is
underway.) Make the application process more user - friendly, through the creation of
a manual or users guide with all of the information needed to pursue new enterprises
(with references to specific sections of the Zoning, Ordinance) in a single easy to read
booklet. Prepare a series of companion brochures that would outline the necessary
steps to apply for a specific type of permit, such as a special use permit. Local
officials must acknowledge that as agriculture evolves from traditional row crops to
more diverse operations, such as organic or specialty farms, land use policies must
evolve as well. Amending the Voluntary Farmland Protection Ordinance to allow for
the designation of Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts (EVADs) would also help
Draft 1012812009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 36
51
52
1 farmers pursue farm - related businesses since EVAD program provides an expanded
2 definition of commercial -type businesses that can be exempted from zoning as part of
3 farm operation.
4 b. Consider ways to Streamline Building Permit process for farmers. The development of
5 the Agricultural Support Enterprises program and manual should facilitate the process
6 for farmers obtaining building permits for farm buildings and for farm enterprise
7 buildings. Delays can cause unnecessary hardships for farmers dependent on the
8 seasonal growing cycle. Sometimes buildings or greenhouses have to be built quickly
9 to allow a farmer to fully perform on contract. Also, delays in permitting can push the
10 timing of a necessary improvement into the seasons where farmers are most busy.
11
12 8. Promote Existing Tax Relief Incentives.
13 The County should ensure that county tax assessors have knowledge of the state's Present -
14 Use Value statute with continuous training as necessary, and should undertake to educate
15 farmland owners on the program, how to apply and comply with present use valuation of
16 farmland, including the new conservation category. All county staff involved with
17 agriculture should follow new developments in alternative energy, and alert farmers and
18 elected officials when new programs come on line that have the potential to benefit Orange
19 County and the greater Triangle Region.
20
21 In the meantime, Orange County may wish to pursue additional tax assistance at the
22 County and State level to help keep farming viable. Some of these benefits may require
23 pursuing special legislation, or new statewide legislation.
24 a. The County may wish to explore special legislation to further reduce the Present -Use
25 Value Taxation rates for all the three agricultural categories to further compensate for
26 the higher property values in Orange County compared to more rural counties.
27 b. The County should reexamine the way it evaluates property taxes for farm buildings
28 and machinery, and consider developing a farm rate for farm buildings and equipment,
29 similar to the present use value system for the land.
30 c. The County should pursue property tax deductions on land in donated easements and
31 on land enrolled in voluntary agricultural districts.
32 d. Farmers should also be encouraged to seek out special programs that provide
33 innovative financial and technical assistance for farm buildings such as the Orange
34 County Local Landmark Program (which provides a property tax deferral for historic
35 farm structures such as the house and outbuildings) or the National Trust's Barn
36 Again! Program. The County may also wish to follow New York or Vermont's example
37 and pursue a state rehabilitation tax benefit for barns.
38
39 9. Provide Technical Assistance on other Farmland Protection Initiatives and Conservation
40 Options.
41 The Environment and Resource Conservation Department, Soil and Water Conservation
42 District staff, Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator, Agricultural Preservation
43 Board and other agricultural boards, should continue and expand educational programs for
44 county farmland owners with regard to land conservation options. The programs, in
45 cooperation with local NRCS, Soil and Water Conservation District, Cooperative Extension
46 and FSA staffs, as well as area conservation groups such as land trusts, watershed
47 protection groups, and wildlife organizations, should make farmers aware of the various
48 conservation funds available for easement purchases, the tax benefits of donated
Draft 1012812009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 37
53
1 easements, and basic principles of estate planning with conservation options. Farmers
2 should be encouraged to continue to be model environmental stewards and promote good
3 forest stewardship management practices using state and federal programs that provide
4 financial assistance. It is particularly important for the County to maintain its experienced
5 agricultural and forestry support staff for these agricultural agencies. The staff provides the
6 education and outreach that enables farmers to participate in these programs as well as
7 general land use planning for agriculture and land conservation.
8
9 10. Develop and Promote a Land Link System.
10 "Land -link" programs are another recent initiative in North Carolina and throughout the
11 country that can help preserve family farms. Land Link programs take the mentoring idea a
12 step further. Similar to an apprenticeship, the idea is to partner young prospective farmers
13 with older farmers, who will provide "hands on" training. These programs have been
14 successful in other urbanizing areas of the country and may provide a way to keep some
15 local farms in operation for another generation. North Carolina Farm Transition Network
16 (NCFTN), located in Hillsborough, provides services to farmers wishing to plan for the future
17 such as estate planning and developing a "land link." As farmers continue to age, land links
18 may become an invaluable way to keep active farms going. The county must take on a
19 more pro - active approach to producing the next generation of farmers and providing them
20 with the resources —land, equipment, and business sense to get established.
21
22 11. Educate the non - farming public on the environmental protection benefits of farmland
23 protection and the detriments of its conversion.
24 Develop a public education campaign to tie consumer support of local agriculture with open -
25 space, clean water and air benefits, and enhanced wildlife habitat working farm and
26 forestland provides. Note the benefits of keeping land in agriculture, horticulture, and
27 forestry to protecting critical drinking water sources, and fresh food.
28
29
30 Strengthen Farm Viability and the Agricultural Economy by Making Agriculture
31 More Profitable
32 1. Create an Agricultural Economic Development Position.
33 ACCOMPLISHED! In 2005 Orange County hired an Agricultural Economic Development
34 position for the county to carry forward the economic initiatives necessary for farm viability.
35 Duties of this position include:
36 a. Determining priorities, developing strategies, and achieving benchmarks for economic
37 development efforts
38 b. Identifying and seeking additional funds for economic and business development for
39 county initiatives and individual producers through grant writing
40 c. Communicating and meeting on a regular basis with stakeholders in agricultural
41 economic development process
42 d. Developing marketing initiatives for local agriculture.
43 The Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator has already spearheaded numerous
44 ventures. The two most notable projects are the development of a regional value -added
45 shared -use food processing center (in the works), and the establishment of a new farm
46 enterprise incubator program that will be part of a larger agricultural facility in conjunction
47 with North Carolina State University and Cooperative Extension Service (PLANT).
48
Draft 1012812003 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 38
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
2. Expand Business Development Assistance to Farm Businesses.
Farmers need more access to business development assistance, particularly as traditional
agricultural markets fade and alternative enterprises are needed. This assistance includes
business development and planning, market research and communication, and financing
opportunity. (The Orange County Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator assists in
many of these tasks.)
a. Establishing a business development program specifically targeted at agricultural
businesses, consisting of a network of business consultants, small business
development counselors, and attorneys familiar with small business and agricultural
law who are willing at a lower cost or volunteer basis to provide assistance.
b. Working with North Carolina Cooperative Extension to disseminate published materials
on agricultural business issues to area professionals to expand their knowledge of
agriculture thus increasing their ability to assist farmers.
c. Working with Cooperative Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation District to
offer workshops to farmers on business planning and development, research,
marketing, financing, conservation funding, and estate planning.
d. Provide grant- writing assistance for federal, state and other non - profit funding
opportunities to assist with diversification, etc.
e. Develop a local directory of the network described in (a) above.
3. Improve Access to Financing and Capital.
Provide assistance in obtaining grants and low interest loans for business start-up,
expansion, retention and diversification. Orange County may wish to strengthen its existing
small business loan program through the Economic Development Commission (EDC) and
develop a new mortgage assistance program to help new farmers buy land for agricultural
purposes. The EDC could partner with the Agricultural Preservation Board and other
agricultural advisory boards to establish a ranking system to evaluate applications. For
example, applicants seeking to buy land already in production might receive a stronger
ranking. The APB might develop a farmer mentoring program to partner prospective
farmers with successful farmers. These are the kinds of companion programs that would
ensure the success of the financing program.
4. Expand Efforts to Promote Orange County Farm Businesses and Farm Products.
New residents provide opportunities for county farmers in the form of new consumers.
Efforts are being made to educate all residents on the association between the agricultural
economy, healthy eating and the life -style many have sought to achieve by locating to our
county. Local institutions remain another, relatively untapped, market for local products.
One area where local government can help farmers is in the dissemination of information
and the preparation of directories, both printed and online. The County is continuing its
efforts to encourage the public school system, the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill, and the UNC- hospital to purchase local food products whenever possible and is working
to develop the infrastructure needed to help facilitate this exchange. The county is
fortunate to house the Weaver Street Market cooperative, which is a substantial buyer of
locally grown products. Several areas restaurants also support local growers.
Draft 1012812009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 39
54
55
1 Activities in this area to date include:
2 a. Creation of an Orange County Farms website and other print publications to identify
3 locally grown product.28 This website can also be used by farmers to identify
4 purchasing opportunities and the business development assistance outlined above;
5 b. Work with the organizers of the local farmers markets and assist with their marketing
6 effort where possible;
7 c: Work with local retail stores and restaurants to purchase and promote products grown
8 locally in the county;
9 d. Work with local institutions such as schools and state offices to purchase food grown
10 locally;
11 e. Expand cooperative efforts with neighboring counties to create a regional identity that
12 includes promotion of agriculture; and
13 f. Sponsorship of festivals, farm tours and other public recognition.
14
15 5. Improve the Marketing Capacity of Farmers.
16 Traditionally, farmers have relied on off -farm distributors to handle marketing and price
17 negotiation for their products. Increasingly, farmers will recognize the value of direct
18 marketing their products to county residents as they diversity and specialize their
19 production. In addition to the steps outlined above, this item could include
20 a. Cooperative ventures may help farmers work together to meet the quantity demands
21 for institutional markets. Farm cooperatives can be used for marketing purposes,
22 financing new ventures and purchasing raw materials, such as fuel and electricity, or
23 the formation of less formal bargaining groups to jointly purchase farm supplies and
24 cooperatively advertise farm products. Orange County holds an Agricultural Summit
25 each February to explore these ventures and bring together potential cooperative
26 farms.29
27 b. The County also holds (at the Summit and at other times during the year) marketing
28 workshops with input from farmers from other counties who have successfully
29 diversified and direct- marketed their production.
30
31
32 Support Farm Operations and the Right -to -Farm
33 1. Support the Right -to -Farm.
34 County and town officials should actively acknowledge the state right to farm law and seek
35 to improve neighbor relations and general understanding of commercial farm activities and
36 needs to reduce nuisance suits and generate positive public support for local agriculture.
37 Action items can include:
38 a. The County already ensures that notice requirements under the Voluntary Agricultural
39 District ordinance are followed in the counties land records system, with posted
40 notices and maps in the tax office, and with identification signage for enrolled farms.
41 b. Address infrastructure needs outlined in farmer surveys. The County should work with
42 the North Carolina state Department of Transportation on road maintenance priorities
43 and signage near farm operations.
44 c.The County could also create a "neighbor relations" packet for distribution to new
45 county residents by the Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau, tax office, etc. This
28 Orange County, North Carolina has created such a site, found at (www.orangecountyfarms.org).
29 See Steuben County, New York, Farmland Protection Plan.
Draft 10/28/2009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 40
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
56
9
23
24
25
26 3.
27
28
29
30
31
can also be made available to farmers wishing to further educate their neighbors on
farming operations.
d. Provide real estate brokers and lawyers with Voluntary Agricultural District maps, the
above "neighbor relations" packet, and printed disclosure notices of agricultural
operations and encourage them to share these materials with their clients.
e. Create an easy to understand brochure on the realities of living in agricultural areas
and make available for distribution, and add such information to the county website:
f. Encourage respect for farm property.
g. Set up local arbitration referral program for farm - neighbor disputes. Pre - litigation
mediation of farm nuisance suits is required in North Carolina.30
h. Encourage municipalities to seek input from the Agricultural Preservation Board or the
other County agricultural advisory boards when developing and revising local
ordinances. It may be useful to establish some sort of forum for discussing proposed
regulations changes, in order to identify the potential for unintended negative
consequences for farmers, before they are adopted.
i. Work with the County Animal Control Division of Animal Services to examine, and
where appropriate amend, regulations that may have a negative impact on commercial
farmers.
Continue Support for Technical Assistance to Farm Operations. The Agricultural
Preservation Board should stay up to date on the various services offered to farmers by
Cooperative Extension, the Soil and Water Conservation District, NRCS and FSA. All
agencies should have cross- referenced materials on these services with contact information
for new and existing county farmers.
Develop a Single Clearing -House Information Source for current agricultural topics, such as
federal, state and local regulations that may impact farmers (including new legislation),
agricultural programs, and events sponsored by Orange County and /or for local farmers in
conjunction with the Orange County Farms website.
30 NCGS §7A -38.3.
Draft 1012812009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 41
57
1 Attract and Train New Farmers and New Farming Ouerations
2 1. Orange County must adopt a more pro - active approach toward attracting new farmers and
3 new farm operations to this region, by advertising for complementary operations, and even
4 offering incentives.
5 a. Develop an economic development model to attract complementary agricultural
6 operations or support operations to the region.
7
8 2. Farmers and farm support staff must work together to teach the next generation about
9 farming, support apprentice options, and promote the pursuit of farming as an occupation.
10 a. The County should expand existing training programs in high schools and work in
11 partnership with local community colleges and the state university system to
12 encourage agricultural students to stay in North Carolina and work on local farms.
13 b. The County should partner with the local school system's community service program
14 to provide non -farm students with an entree into the farming community, to provide
15 them with the land and business skills to consider farming as a career.
16 c. Develop apprenticeship programs, and or mentor programs to partner potential
17 farmers with successful farmers.
18 d. Continue existing programs for young people such as the Junior Livestock Show,
19 Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4 -H.
20
21
22 Foster Greater Recognition and Public Support for Agriculture
23 1. Foster Greater Appreciation for Agriculture Among Government Officials and Non -farm
24 Residents through Education and Outreach Efforts.
25 a. Continue educating county and municipal officials and planning board members on
26 farming issues and basics of agricultural law, as well as "smart growth" strategies that
27 concentrate growth near existing centers and infrastructure.
28 b. Continue efforts to keep members of the agricultural community involved in local
29 government and planning.
30 c. Plan a Cost of Community Services (COCS) study to demonstrate the public fiscal
31 advantages of land use planning for agricultural viability. ACCOMPLISHEDH In 2006,
32 the AFT conducted a COCS for Orange County, and determined that on average, for
33 every $1 in revenue raised by residential development, the County must spend $1.24
34 on services. For each dollar of revenue raised by farm, forest, or open space, Orange
35 County only spends $0.72 cents on services. Based on this study, which is consistent
36 with nationwide trends, most residential development does not pay for itself; the
37 exception is typically very high -end housing or housing served by public water and
38 sewer systems. Likewise, in other COCS studies, including two conducted by North
39 Carolina State University for Chatham County (1998) and Wake County (2001),
40 farmland has been shown to require significantly less in public service (fire protection,
41 water and sewer, police, schools, etc) expenditures than it contributes in tax revenue,
42 even at the lower differential assessment rate afforded under the present -use value
43 taxation system. The results of this study should be publicized to further generate
44 protection of the agricultural economy as sound county fiscal policy.
45 d. The Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator should cultivate local and state
46 media coverage of the benefits of agriculture to the well -being of the county, and
47 should regularly communicate with media about achievements reached under this
48 plan.
Draft 1012812009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 42
I e. Improve Communication and Networking within the Farm Community.
2
3 2. Develop Stronger Connections Between Schools and Local Farms.
4 Schools offer an excellent opportunity to educate students and their parents about the
5 importance of local farms. The school cafeteria system also provides a substantial market
6 for locally grown products.
7 a. The County should continue to pursue all opportunities to teach students about
8 agriculture —the value of locally grown goods to their health and the local economy.
9 Instruction should include hands -on training from field to table— growing vegetables
10 from assigned garden plots, harvest techniques, food storage (canning) and
11 preparation.
12 b. The County should also continue to pursue efforts to serve locally grown products in
13 cafeterias. New school buildings should be designed with commercial kitchens capable
14 of cooking food from scratch. The Small Farms /School Meals Initiative was started in
15 1997 by the USDA as a model to get locally grown products into public school
16 cafeterias, Orange County needs to study this model and determine the best way to
17 incorporate a similar program into its public school system. The creation of brokering
18 systems and /or cooperative frameworks for use in one institutional setting will be
19 easily assimilated into another creating a series of win -win spin -offs.
20
21
22 Pursue New Initiatives to Address Increasing Energy Costs and Alternative
23 Energy Needs
24 1. County residents must begin to develop a more holistic view of agriculture and a better
25 understanding of the global implications of their lifestyle decisions, particularly as
26 consumers.
27 In an effort to address increasing petroleum demands and increasing oil prices, farmers and
28 non - farmers should reconsider their energy usage — building and vehicle needs (cars and
29 farm machinery).
30
31 2. Local farmers should explore the potential for growing crops suitable for the production of
32 alternative fuels, and the potential to process alternative fuels.
33 `Growing Green" or alternative energy production is a growing industry and one that is well
34 suited to the farming community.31 What makes green industries particularly attractive for
35 farmers is the number of options available. Some of these new commodities include:
36 a. Sequestered Carbon. Energy companies are beginning to pay farmers for "credits" to
37 help mitigate climate change. Growing grasses, trees or using no -till planting practices
38 that leave the soil relatively undisturbed trap carbon rather than releasing it into the
39 atmosphere. Properly managed forestry programs can provide a sustainable source of
40 lumber while offsetting carbon dioxide emissions. Forestry has great potential for
41 Orange County farmers, but cutting trees is part of the operation. Forestry and
42 agricultural support staff will have to help educate the non -farm community so that
43 residents understand the harvest techniques and scheduled cuts that are part of a
44 successful operation.
31 The American Farmland Trust dedicated the Winter 2008 issue of its magazine, American Farmland, to
climate change and green opportunities for farmers. More information on this topic is available on their
website http: / /www.farmland.org[.
Draft 1012812009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 43
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
b. Energy from Wind and Solar Power. While the geography of Piedmont North Carolina
is an unlikely source for large -scale wind power, it may provide sufficient energy for
individual farms to produce power for farm buildings. Likewise solar power may
provide farmers with a cleaner and cheaper form of energy to pump water, charge
electric fences batteries and light and heat buildings. Eventually farmers who are able
to produce more power than they need may be able to sell their surplus to local
C.
741
energy companies.
Energy Crops. Agricultural crops that can produce biofuels and ethanol
for fossil fuels are becoming increasingly popular in
Orange County. Soybeans and corn are currently the
most common crops, but with new technology other
as substitutes
As other alternative energy opportunities become available education and outreach will be
important. But these examples provide a sample of the types of programs that could work
in Orange County, particularly with the county's proximity to several universities and
Research Triangle.32
32 North Carolina agencies include: NC Technological Development Authority, NC, DENR, Solid Waste
Section, NC Cooperative Extension Service, NC State Office of Energy. Federal partners include: US EPA
Landfill Methane Outreach Program, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the US EPA
Divisions of Pollution Prevention.
Draft 1012812009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 44
59
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
Kev Stakeholders and Their Roles in Implementing the Plan 33
1. Farmers;
2. County Government.
3. Town Governments.
4. State Agencies:
5. Federal Agencies:
6. Business and Industry:
7. Non - governmental Organizations:
8. Residents: The success of this plan ultimately relies on the participation of county
residents in the local agricultural market. The proximity of their purchases to the
producers ensures that more of each dollar paid for an agricultural item will return to
the farmer, thus increasing his or her profitability and increasing the likelihood that he or
she will continue to farm their land. Residents of the county must also recognize the
importance of working farms to the local economy and environment and heritage of
Orange County by supporting an effort to establish and subsequently support funding
for a purchase of agricultural conservation easements program.
Implementation Schedule
A. First Year Action Steps34
1. Decrease impediments to profitable farm ventures.
a) Get the Piedmont Value -Added Regional Processing Center up and running.
b) Amend Orange County Voluntary Farmland Protection Ordinance to include the
designation of Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts.
c) Continue work with the county and local municipalities to revise local zoning
regulations that may limit innovative farm ventures.
d) Begin a dialogue with staff and elected officials in Orange County and the
municipalities in and adjacent to Orange County to discuss agricultural issues.
e) Work with county departments and educate landowners to ensure that the Present
Use Value program and the exemption from county zoning for agriculture are fully
utilized to promote agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.
f) Meet with conventional farmers, individually and in groups, to discuss the challenges
that are unique to large landowners and to determine if local government can help.
g) Work with NCSU staff to explore new ways to provide tax assistance for farmers.
2. Attract new agricultural operations to Orange Count).
a) Work with the Economic Development Commission and agricultural agency boards to
develop a profile of the types of agricultural ventures that will enhance Orange
33 Rensselaer County, New York Farmland Protection Plan, 65.
34 The schedule will depend, in part, on when this plan is approved, taking into account the county's fiscal
cycle, and particularly county farmers' seasonal availability to participate in workshops and other
implementation elements of this plan.
Draft 1012812009 Implementation Schedule 45
ME,
61
1 County. Offer workshops on conservation programs and forestry that can
2 supplement revenue to existing operations, particularly for large landowners.
3
4 3. Produce new farmers.
5 a) Expand existing programs that teach farming, such as the PLANT incubator at the
6 Breeze Farm.
7 b) Continue and expand existing programs for farmers through Cooperative Extension
8 and the Soil and Water Conservation District.
9 c) Begin a dialogue with successful farmers regarding a future apprentice program.
10
11 4. Improve community awareness of farming and the relationship between local farms and
12 food security.
13 a) Begin to promote the pursuit of farming as an honorable occupation.
14
15 5. Begin the dialogue with local officials to ensure that future schools are designed and
16 built with commercial kitchens capable of cooking food from scratch.
17 a) Ask local governments to start buying locally grown and produced products for
18 government functions where food is provided.
19
20
21 B. Second Year Action Steps
22 1. Decrease impediments to profitable farm ventures.
23 a) Pursue new measures for additional tax relief (some of which may require special
24 legislation).
25 b) Expand on conversations between Orange County and the municipalities regarding
26 the future of local farming. Develop a mediation or ombudsman program to
27 evaluate the unintended consequences of zoning changes and annexation to existing
28 farmers. Consider adopting memorandums of understanding to support agricultural
29 programs.
30
31 2. Attract new agricultural operations to Orange County.
32 a) Advertise for new agricultural operations.
33 b) Advertise for existing operations to relocate, or begin a new `branch" in Orange
34 County.
35 c) Consider sending an existing local farmer for training sessions to learn about a new
36 type of crop or production process.
37
38 3. Produce new farmers.
39 a) Develop a mentoring system to link successful farmers with new farmers. The
40 program does not have to include a formal apprentice component, although it can.
41 Rather it should provide the new farmer with an advisor.
42 b) Build on existing programs between 4 -H and local FFA programs and commodity
43 organizations, and agricultural advisory boards.
44
45 4. Improve community awareness of farming and the relationship between local farms and
46 food security.
47 a) Evaluate the regional food system.
Draft 9012812009 Implementation Schedule 46
I
2
3
4
5
6
5.
b) Begin to consider how to get local residents, to consume 10% locally grown and
produced products in five years.
c) Ask local governments to adopt policies that will mandate their purchase of 10%
locally grown and produced products, for government functions, in five years.
Establish the groundwork to begin a brokering Wstem that facilitates the link between
7
local producers and institutional markets.
8
9
10
C. Critical Ongoing Action Steps
11
✓
Continue to recognize and support the right to farm. Protect farm operations from
12
incompatible adjacent land uses or activities that will adversely affect the long -term
13
agricultural investment in land and improvements.
14
15
✓
Continue to promote existing programs to preserve farmland, including the voluntary
16
agricultural district program and agricultural conservation easements. Continue to seek
17
funding sources to offset the cost of purchasing easements, and promote the donation
18
of easements for tax credits.
19
20
✓
Develop programs and associated infrastructure facilities to make local farms more
21
economically viable, including local farm product processing, development of a
22
distribution center, and marketing initiatives.
23
24
✓
Encourage farmers to continue to be model environmental stewards and promote good
25
forest stewardship management practices using state and federal programs that provide
26
financial assistance.
27
28
✓
Encourage the use and production of natural fuel alternatives to petroleum -based
29
products and pursue new types energy sources. Monitor new opportunities in the 2008
30
Farm Bill and elsewhere for farmers to produce and use alternative sources of energy.
31
32
✓
Minimize the negative impacts of future public projects (such as roads, utility lines, etc)
33
on farming operations and productive farmland. Conduct public review of projects
34
proposed by entities that have the power of eminent domain, and consider the impact of
35
such actions on agricultural activity.
36
37
✓
Develop a single clearing -house information source for current agricultural topics,
38
agricultural programs, and events sponsored by Orange County and /or for local farmers
39
in conjunction with the Orange County Farms website.
40
41
✓
Work with the North Carolina Farmland Transition Network and local FFA programs to
42
establish an ongoing apprenticeship with Orange County farmers. Establish foundation
43
for future land link program.
44
45 ✓ Maintain experienced agricultural support staff for local farmers.
46
47
Draft 1012812009 Implementation Schedule 47
63
Draft 1012812009 Implementation Schedule 48
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
17
19
21
23
25
27
29
31
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
In 1986, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Farmland Preservation Enabling Act.3s
This important legislation provided counties with the authority to establish farmland
preservation programs including voluntary agricultural districts (VADs) and agricultural advisory
boards. The Act also created the North Carolina Farmland Preservation Fund, which allowed
counties to develop purchase of agricultural conservation easements programs and created a
matching mechanism for distribution of Farmland Preservation Trust Fund monies.36 Orange
County was one of the first counties in North Carolina to adopt a Voluntary Farmland
Preservation Plan Ordinance. The 1992 ordinance established the VAD program and created
the Agricultural District Advisory Board (later renamed the Agricultural Preservation Board).
The County purchased its first agricultural conservation easement in 2001 using matching grant
funds.
In 2005 the General Assembly amended the program with an expanded
focus that included a strong agricultural economic development
component. Renamed the Agricultural Development and Farmland
Preservation Enabling Act and the Agricultural Development and
Farmland Trust Fund, the revised trust fund supports agricultural
development projects such as business planning and incubator
programs as well as agricultural easements and other traditional
farmland preservation programs.
To be eligible for Trust Fund monies, counties must have an adopted a countywide farmland
protection plan in place.37 In addition, to be consistent with the state model the plan must
contain seven key sections. These include:
• A statement of the need for action;
• A summary of the county's authority to adopt the plan;
• An overview of the county's agricultural activity, past and present;
• A outline of challenges for the local agricultural community;
• A statement of opportunities for enhancing local agriculture, including programs in place
and potential new programs for the future;
• A set of action steps to ensure a more viable agricultural community for the future; and
• A schedule to implement the action steps.38
A countywide farmland protection plan may be prepared with the assistance of an agricultural
advisory board. The Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board will take the lead role in
writing and administering this plan, working closely with the Soil and Water District Board and
the Cooperative Extension Board, and reporting to the Board of County Commissioners on its
progress.
3s NCGS §106 -735 et seq.
36 Funding was not provided until 1998, when the legislature appropriated $250,000 for acquisition of
agricultural conservation easements.
37 NCGS §106 -744 (c)(1).
38 NCGS §106- 744(e)(1 -5).
Draft 1012812009
Authority of County Action
49
64
Draft 10/2812009 Authority of County Action 50