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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPB agenda 022002COUNTY OF ORANGE ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE CONSERVAT .ryW Ei MEMORANDUMX To: Agricultural Preservation Board I I From: David Stancil, ERC Director Date: December 12, 2001 Re: February 20 Meeting Please find attached the agenda for our next meeting, scheduled for: BOCC Chair and APB Liaison Barry Jacobs will be joining us for the meeting. * *DON'T FORGET THE 4TH ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL SUMMIT AT SCHLEY GRANGE HALL ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH ** Please contact Carol Melton (245 -2597) by Monday, February 18 if you will be unable to attend. Copies: Dianne Reid, Economic Development Director Fletcher Barber, CES County Director Brent Bogue, District Conservationist Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Manager Mike Lanier, Ag Economic Development Specialist AGENDA Wednesday, February 20, 2002 Planning and Agricultural Center Revere Road, Hillsborough, NC 7:30 p.m. Time Page AGENDA ITEM 7:30 1. CALL TO ORDER 7:30 2. CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS TO AGENDA 7:31 01 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — December 19, 2001 7:35 04 4. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION a. Subcommittee Report — Letter re Blackwood Farm b. Revisions to Voluntary Farmland Protection Ordinance c. Update — Board of Commissioners Annual Retreat d. Report — 4t' Annual Ag Summit (February 19) 9:00 5. ADJOURNMENT 6 Draft MINUTES AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION BOARD December 19, 2001 PRESENT: Whit Morrow, Bob Strayhorn, Elizabeth Walters, Marty Mandell, Louise Tate, Tony Kleese, Rodney Recor, Environment & Resource Conservation Director David Stancil, ERCD Preservation Planner Tina Moon, and Carol Melton. Guests present: Carl Walters, Helen Strayhorn. ABSENT: Noah Ranells, Charles Thompson, ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER Strayhorn called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m., thanked everyone for coming and asked if anyone had new additions or items for consideration to add to the agenda. Kleese reported that the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association has been hired to work with NC State to organize a Sustainable Agricultural Research Education 2002 National Conference in Raleigh during October. In place of the usual conference lectures, this year will focus on farm tours of local areas by buses and asked if this board would like to be involved. ITEM #2: CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS TO AGENDA ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES November 27, 2001, MOTION: Kleese made motion to approve the November 27th, 2001 minutes with correction as noted. Seconded by Walters. VOTE: Unanimous. ITEM #4: ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION a. Items upcoming January 2002 & Updates on Voluntary Agricultural Districts Stancil updated the APB with a list of items they may wish to consider in the upcoming year. One key item is to revisit the VFPPO. The APB has discussed potential revisions to this ordinance such as reducing the number of acres required to participate in the Voluntary Agricultural District program. Stancil noted that staff recently received a new VAD application but had to delay processing the materials because the 80 acres of land were not contiguous. In terms of new initiatives for advisory boards, Stancil noted that the BOCC is scheduled to have their annual retreat in February. b. Updates on Land Acquisitions Stancil reported that the Blackwood farm acquisition is close to being finalized and handed out a press release. The APB discussed the background of the property including the history of the house and Blackwood family. Several ideas for the use of the property were discussed, but the idea of some type of park or farm museum remaining the most popular choice. Funding sources include part of the 1997 park bond, school park reserve (co- located with schools and parks for sharing facilities), subdivision payment in -lieu funds, and the new bond money. There has also been some discussion of the possibility of constructing limited playing fields on the two open meadow areas. Other use ideas include low impact recreation trails, farm museum, and picnic areas, leaving visible areas intact for protection of natural resources. After the use discussion the APB decided to form a subcommittee to draft a formal request to the BOCC to protect the agricultural aspect for the property. In addition, the members suggested inviting Commissioner Jacobs to the next meeting. Morrow suggested that the Blackwoods write a letter to the APB stating preservation suggestions that they would like to encourage for the property. Discussions included a letter to the BOCC about the concerns of preserving the farmhouse and buildings, maintenance and security, participation of the APB in the process of decisions for use of the property. Staff to generate language expressing these concerns and everyone to bring their ideas to the next meeting for inclusion. Mandell asked for topo map of the property at the next meeting. MOTION: Kleese made a motion for a subcommittee to draft a letter of concerns, vision outline and proposal for use of the Blackwood property to the BOCC, participate in the decision making process, and consider appropriate uses for the homestead including a potential agricultural center. Seconded by Strayhorn. VOTE: Unanimous. Subcommittee: Morrow, Mandell, Strayhorn, Recor and staff. ITEM #5: Holiday Social ITEM #6: . Adjournment The APB adjourned at 9:50 p.m. 2 03. FWWA W 4/18/00 1 ORANGE COUNTY VOLUNTARY FARMLAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM ORDINANCE Section I - ENACTMENT Pursuant to the authority conferred by the Farmland Preservation Enabling Act, Article 61 of Chapter 106 of the North Carolina General Statutes, Section 106 -735 et seq., and for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the county, the Board of Commissioners of Orange County, North Carolina, hereby adopts this ordinance, which shall be known as the Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance of Orange County, North Carolina. Section II - PURPOSE The purpose of this ordinance is to encourage the voluntary preservation and protection of farmland from non -farm development, recognizing the importance of agriculture to the economic and cultural life of the county. Section III - DEFINITIONS (amended 4117100) For the purposes of this ordinance, the following terms shall have the following definitions: Board: Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board Chair: Chair of the Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board District: Voluntary Agricultural District Section IV - AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION BOARD (amended 4117100) A. CREATION An Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board, consisting of seven (7) initial members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, is hereby established. Thereafter, the Agricultural Preservation Board shall consist of up to seven (7) at -large members plus one member for each District created and existing under this Ordinance, all appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Additional appointments may be made to satisfy the requirements of Section IV.B.1.b.of this ordinance. B. MEMBERSHIP Requirements a. Each Board member shall be a resident of Orange County. 4/18/00 2 b. Each District existing pursuant to this ordinance shall be represented on the Board by a person owning farmland in the district. The Board of County Commissioners shall appoint the District representatives and shall make its selection of a representative from each District from among those owning farmland in the District. c. The remaining members of the Board shall be appointed at -large by the Board of County Commissioners to represent a broad range of agricultural interests. 2. Tenure Each member shall serve a term of three (3) years, except that the initial Board is to consist of two (2) appointees for terms of two (2) years, two (2) appointees for terms of three (3) years, and three (3) appointees for terms of four (4) years. Thereafter, all appointments are to be for terms of three (3) years, with reappointments permitted. Notwithstanding the term limits contained in this section, District representatives may be appointed and re- appointed as necessary to insure that each District is represented as provided in Section B.1.b of this Ordinance. 3. Vacancies Any vacancy on the Board is to be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term. C. PROCEDURE The Board shall develop procedures for the conduct of its meetings, which procedures shall be consistent with Robert's Rules of Order. D. DUTIES The Board shall have the authority to: Review and approve the form of the agreement to sustain agriculture required in Section V of this ordinance; 2. Review and approve applications for qualifying farmland certification and make recommendations concerning the establishment and modification of agricultural districts; 3. Review and make recommendations concerning proposed amendments to this ordinance; 4. Hold public hearings pursuant to Section VII of this ordinance; 5. Hold joint public hearings with the Orange County Board of Commissioners on public projects likely to have an impact on agricultural operations within Orange County; 6. Advise the Board of County Commissioners on projects, programs or issues affecting the agricultural economy or activities within the county and that will affect agricultural districts; 7. Study additional methods of farmland preservation and make recommendations to the Orange County Board of Commissioners; and 8. Perform other related tasks or duties assigned by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. 06 4/18/00 3 Section V - APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFYING FARMLAND AND VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS (amended 4197100) A. PURPOSE The purpose of voluntary agricultural districts is to increase identity and pride in the agricultural community and its way of life, and to increase protection from nuisance suits and other negative impacts on properly- managed farms. B. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION IN A VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT 1. An agricultural district shall initially consist of: a. At least 80 contiguous acres (rounded to the nearest whole acre) of certified qualifying farmland; or (Amended 9122192 and 5124193) b. At least two or more certified qualifying farms, contiguous to each other, which will create a district of not less than 80 acres (rounded to the nearest whole acre). (Amended 9122192 and 5124193) In addition, small tracts or lots, when surrounded by or adjacent to certified qualifying farms, may be added to and thereby included in an existing or proposed voluntary agricultural district. (Amended 2122193) 2. The owners of the qualifying farmland must execute an agreement with Orange County to sustain agriculture in the District. 3. Qualifying farmland may be added to existing districts upon execution by the owner of an agreement to sustain agriculture. 4. In the event that one or more participants in the District withdraw and the acreage in the District becomes less than the minimum acreage required or results in the remaining land being non - contiguous, a voluntary agricultural district will continue to exist so long as there is one qualifying farm. C. CERTIFICATION AS QUALIFYING FARMLAND 1. To secure certification as qualifying farmland, a farm must: a. Be participating in the farm present use -value taxation program established by the N.C. General Statutes, Sections 105 -277.2 through 105 - 277.7, or is otherwise determined by the County to meet all the qualifications of this program set forth in the N.C. General Statutes, Sections 105 - 277.3. b. Be certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture as being a farm on which at least two - thirds of the land is composed of soils that: (1) Are best suited for providing food, seed, fiber, forage, timber, and oil seed crops; (2) Have good soil qualities; 7 (3) Are favorable for all major crops common to Orange County; 4/18/00 4 (4) Have a favorable growing season; and (5) Receive the available moisture needed to produce high yields for an average of eight (8) out of ten (10) years; OR be one on which at least two - thirds of the land has been actively used in agricultural, horticultural or forestry operations as defined in the N.C. General Statutes, Section 105 -277.2 (1,2, and 3), during each of the five (5) previous years, measured from the date on which the determination must be made as to whether the land in question qualifies. C. Be managed, if highly erodible land exists on the farm, in accordance with the Natural Resources Conservation Service defined erosion - control practices as specified in the 1985 Food Security Act. d. Be the subject of a conservation agreement, as provided in Article 4 of Chapter 121 of the N.C. General Statutes, between Orange County and the owner of such land that prohibits non -farm use or development of such land for a period of at least ten (10) years, except for the creation of not more than three (3) lots that meet applicable Orange County zoning and subdivision regulations. D. APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES A farmland owner may apply for either certification as qualifying farmland or for qualifying farmland certification and designation as a voluntary agricultural district. For a farmland owner to receive the benefits provided by this ordinance, the farm must be certified as qualifying farmland by the Agricultural Preservation Board and designated as a voluntary agricultural district by the Board of County Commissioners. Applications for qualifying farmland certification and for voluntary agricultural district designation shall be made to the Orange County Environment and Resource Conservation Department on forms provided by that department. 2. The Environment and Resource Conservation Department shall review each application for completeness. When complete, the application shall be forwarded to: a. The Orange County Tax Supervisor's Office; and b. The local office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. Within 30 days of receiving an application, the above offices shall evaluate the application for cnmpliance with the requirements of Section V.D.2. above and return their findings to the Environment and Resource Conservation Department. The Environment and Resource Conservation Department shall present the application for consideration at the first meeting of the Agricultural Preservation Board, following receipt of the findings of the above offices. 3. Within 60 days of receipt of the findings of the Orange County Tax Supervisor and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices, the Board will render a decision regarding the application of qualifying farmland status, and, if applicable, prepare a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners regarding the establishment of a 4/18/00 5 08 voluntary agricultural district. The Chair will notify the applicant by mail of the Board's decision as to whether the real property for which certification is sought satisfies the criteria established in Section V and has been certified as qualifying farmland. If application was also sought for designation as a voluntary agricultural district, the Chair will notify the applicant of the Board's recommendation concerning such designation. 4. Upon receipt of the recommendation of the Board, the Board of County Commissioners may consider an application for establishment of a voluntary agricultural district. In deciding whether to establish a district, the Board of County Commissioners shall consider the findings of the Orange County Tax Supervisor and Natural Resources Conservation Service offices as well as the recommendation of the Board. 5. Upon approval by the Board of County Commissioners, the establishment of a voluntary agricultural district shall become effective upon recordation of a conservation agreement, prepared in accordance with Section V.C.(1)(d), executed by the landowner and the County, and recorded in the Orange County Register of Deeds as provided in the N.C. General Statutes, Section 121 -41. 6. Upon recordation of a conservation easement, the Environment and Resource Conservation Department will notify the Orange County Tax Supervisor of the voluntary agricultural district established. The location of said district will be marked on the Orange County tax maps. E. The County may take such action as it deems appropriate through the Agricultural Preservation Board or other body or individual to encourage the formation of voluntary agricultural districts and to further their purposes and objectives, including, at a minimum, a public information program to reasonably inform landowners of the farmland preservation program. Section VI- REVOCATION OF CONSERVATION AGREEMENT By written notice to the Board of County Commissioners, a landowner of qualifying farmland may revoke the conservation agreement formulated pursuant to Section V of this ordinance. Such revocation shall result in loss of qualifying status, and consequently, loss of eligibility to participate in a voluntary agricultural district and benefits thereof. Upon revocation of a conservation agreement, written notice of the revocation shall be recorded in the Orange County Register of Deeds as provided in the N.C. General Statutes, Section 121 -41. Section VII - PUBLIC HEARINGS (amended 4117100) A. PURPOSE No state or local public agency or governmental unit may formally initiate any action to condemn any interest in qualifying farmland within a voluntary agricultural district until such agency or unit has requested the Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board to hold a public hearing on the proposed condemnation. B. PROCEDURE 1. Upon receiving a request, the Agricultural Preservation Board shall publish notice describing the proposed action in a newspaper having general circulation in the area within seven (7) days of the request, and will in the same notice notify the public of a public hearing on the proposed condemnation, to be held within 30 days of receipt of the request. 09 4/18/00 6 2. The Board will, in making its findings and recommendations following the public hearing, consider such factors as: a. Whether the need for the project has been satisfactorily established by the agency or unit of government involved, including a review of any fiscal impact analysis conducted by the agency involved; and b. Alternatives to the proposed action that have less impact and are less disruptive to the agricultural activities and farm land base of the voluntary agricultural district within which the proposed action is to take place. 3. The Board will consult with the Orange County Cooperative Extension Service, the local U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service office, and the Orange County Environment and Resource Conservation Department, and may consult with any other individuals, agencies or organizations, public or private, necessary to the Board's review of the proposed action. 4. Within 30 days after the request for public hearing, the Board will make a report to the decision - making body of the proposed condemnor, which report shall contain the Board's findings and recommendations regarding the proposed action. 5. Pursuant to N.C. General Statutes, Section 106 -740, the proposed condemnor shall not formally initiate a condemnation action while the proposed condemnation is properly before the advisory board within these time limitation. Section VIII - RECORD NOTICE OF PROXIMITY TO FARMLANDS A. PURPOSE The purpose of this section is to help prevent potential conflicts from occurring between qualifying farms and non -farm landowners regarding acceptable and responsible farming operations and practices, and to minimize the incidence of nuisance suits against owners of qualifying farmland. B. PROCEDURE Upon certification of qualifying farmland and designation of real property as a voluntary agricultural district, the Orange County Land Records System shall be changed to include a notice reasonably calculated to alert a person researching the title of a particular tract that such tract is located within one -half mile of a voluntary agricultural district. C. In no event shall the County or any of its officers, employees, or agents be held liable in damages for any misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance occurring in good faith in connection with the duties or obligations imposed by any ordinance adopted under subsection B above. D. In no event shall any cause of action arise out of the failure of a person researching the title of a particular tract to report to any person the proximity of the tract to a qualifying farm or voluntary agricultural district as defined in this ordinance. Section IX - WAIVER OF WATER AND SEWER ASSESSMENTS A. Landowner(s) belonging to voluntary agricultural districts shall not be assessed for or required to connect to Orange County water and/or sewer systems. 4/18/00 7 B. Water and sewer assessments will be held in abeyance, without interest, for farms, whether inside or outside of a voluntary agricultural district, until improvements on such property are connected to the water or sewer system for which the assessment was made. C. When the period of abeyance ends, the assessment is payable in accordance with the terms set out in the assessment resolution. D. Statutes of limitations are suspended during the time that any assessment is held in abeyance without interest. E. Assessment procedures followed under Article 9 of Chapter 153A of the N.C. General Statutes shall conform to the terms of this ordinance with respect to qualifying farms that entered into conservation agreements while such ordinance was in effect. F. Nothing in this section is intended to diminish the authority of the County to hold assessments in abeyance under N.C. General Statutes, Section 153A -201. Section X - LAND -USE INCENTIVES TO VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT FORMATION A. PURPOSE The purpose of this section is to help meet the needs of agriculture as an industry in Orange County and prevent conflicts between voluntary agricultural district participants and non -farm landowners in proximity to districts. B. PROCEDURE Land -use planning decisions and ordinances affecting parcels of land adjacent to any district shall take into account the existence of such district and the purpose of this ordinance. Section XI - NORTH CAROLINA AGENCY NOTIFICATION A. The Board may consult with the North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, the North Carolina Division of Soil and Water, and any other entity the Boards deems necessary to the proper conduct of its business. B. A copy of this ordinance shall be recorded with the North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture's Office after adoption. At least once a year, the County shall submit a written report to the Commissioner of Agriculture including the status, progress, and activities of the County's farmland preservation program, which report may include voluntary agricultural districting information regarding: Number of landowners involved in the program; 2. Number of acres for which qualifying farmland certification has been applied for; 3. Number of acres certified as qualifying farmland; 4. Number of acres denied certification as qualifying farmland; and 5. Number of districts in Orange County. 4/18/00 8 C. Copies of the reports cited in Section XI.B. above may be sent to the Orange County Board of Commissioners and any other entities the Board deems appropriate. Section XII - PURCHASE OF AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS As provided in the N.C. General Statutes, Section 106 -744, Orange County may, with the voluntary consent of landowners, acquire by purchase agricultural conservation easements over qualifying farmland as defined in Section V.D. of this ordinance and located within a voluntary agricultural district as defined in Section V.C. of this ordinance. This ordinance shall be effective from and after April 1, 1992. Duly adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Orange, North Carolina, this 24th day of March, 1992. Revised 9122192; 5124193; 4197100. H:2d2b /vfpp418 ORANGE COUNTY ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION MEMORANDUM To: Agricultural Preservation Board From: ERCD Staff Date: November 20, 2001 Subject: Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance During the past year the APB has discussed a variety of strategies to preserve farming and active agricultural lands in Orange County. The following items reflect potential revisions to our existing farmland preservation ordinance ( VFPPO) to better incorporate these new strategies. VFPPO Language Changes • Review the new model ordinance developed by North Carolina State University and consider using some of its language to revisit VAD issues. • Clarify the language in Section D. APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES item 6. to more clearly differentiate the conservation agreement requirement to participate in a Voluntary Agricultural Districts versus a traditional conservation easement. Ways to Improve the Voluntary Agricultural District Program (VAD) • Increase the number of incentives to participate in the VAD program. • Reduce minimum farm size • Provide more benefits • Decrease number of disincentives to participate in the VAD program. • Revise agreement form • Reconsider qualifications for a seat on the APB. Utilizing the Farmland Ranking System • Update the ranking system to reflect agricultural priority areas (as information about the location of active farms becomes available). Other issues and potential partnerships • Economic Development for Agriculture • Farmland Preservation through land use planning • Pursue a Transfer of Development program with the Planning Department • Ensure that the APB has the opportunity to review development proposals with a one mile radius from VAD and have input into substantial land use planning policy and regulatory changes 13 im Orange County Agricultural ,qumm;+ 306 Revere Road - P. O. Box 8181 Hillsborough, .NC 27278 To: Orange County FaVners and Other Interested Individuals From: Barry Ja s, Oran e oar o Co ners Dr. Fl etcher Barber, Jr. County Extension Director Chair, Orange County Agricultural Summit Planning Committee Date: January 25, 2002 Subject: Agricultural Summit - February 19, 2002 You are invited to attend the Fourth Orange County Agricultural Summit, to be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 from 9:00 a.m. until 1 :15 p.m. at the Schley Grange Hall at the intersection of Schley Road and NC Highway 57 in northern Orange County. Registration will take place from 8:30 -9:00 a.m., and refreshments will be available. This year's Summit will provide agricultural producers in Orange County another opportunity to hear strategies for preserving their farms during this time of agricultural transition. We are proud and pleased to.note that N.C. Secretary of Agriculture Meg Scott Phipps will be the keynote speaker on this important topic. Several speakers will discuss changes that are in the works regarding the use -value system, as well as. other legislative matters of interest to farmers. Later there will be three breakout sessions on plasticulture specialty crops, vegetable marketing, and on how to analyze and manage possible new agricultural ventures. A sponsored lunch will be served and-exhibits will feature information from different commodity and grower associations as well as agricultural resource agencies. Please call North Carolina Cooperative Extension - Orange County Center at (919) 245 -2050 . to reserve your place. Seating is limited, so please respond as soon as possible, and no later than 5:00 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2002. Sponsoring agencies include: the Orange County Board of Commissioners and North Carolina Cooperative Extension - Orange County Center, Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board, Orange County Economic Development Commission, Orange County Environment and Resource Conservation Department, Orange County Soil.and Water Conservation District and Natural Resource Conservation Service. Enclosure: Agenda & Map 11 Agenda Fourth Agricultural Summit - Farmer's Forum Tuesday, February 19, 2001 9:00 a.m. —1:15 p.m. Schley Grange Hall 8:30- 9:00 ............... • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••..• ........................ Registration and Refreshments 9:00 -9:05 .............................................................. ............................... .. Welcome Dr. Fletcher Barber, Jr., Director N. C. Cooperative Extension, Orange County Center Barry Jacobs, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners 9:05 -9:35 ............ ............................... ............................Meg Scott Phipps, Commissioner N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services 9: 35- 10: 20 ........................................................ ............................... Use Value Legislation & Other Legislative Matters Representative Joe Hackney, N.C. House of Representatives Julian Philpott, N.C. Farm Bureau Bill Connolly, N.C. Department. of Revenue Questions and Answers 10:20 -10:30 ................................................................................ ............................... Break 10: 30- 10: 45 ........................................... ............................... ...........................Mike Lanier Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator 10:45-11:00 ...................... .... Update of County Initiatives .................. ............................... Commissioner Barry Jacobs, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners David Stancil, Director Environment & Resource Conservation 11:00 -11:45 ........................ ............................... ..........................First Break -Out Sessions (3 concurrent) 11:45- 12: 30 ............................................................................ ............................... Lunch 12:30 -1:15 .............................................. ......................... ..... Second Break -Out Sessions (3 concurrent) 1:15 ................................................................................ ............................... Adjournment 16 Agricultural ` U-mmit Meeting Schley .all Directional Map 17 I Material Agricultural Preservation 11 -• 0 1 11 he Mountain Times - The High Country's Home Page Naftanwide` a IIl_iur7nce B. Park Terrell III ALLT14E SLOPES 6P —BATEQ 13AiLY! Sng Snovkiiloarding Equipment stories http://www.mountaintimes.com/mtweokly/l 2-27-200 1 /farm.php 3 All .ate/" 111► 9l 71M. >. -- s"°".�t�";. Auto Sates -,1- -'w► M lob., 1 # Updatbd Each _rtF' ►3� s, �i', �'t7i�e cit1y By GP. • A Weekly Publication Serving North Carolina's High Country Region Farm Preservation Places 1,800 Acres In Voluntary Program By Miles Tager POSTED DECEMBER 27, 2001 The careful groundwork by organizers and supporters looks to be paying off in a large way; Ashe County's fledgling acres into the program. With the first meeting to take applications held just a month ago in the new Agricultural Services Building in Jefferson, Agricultural Advisory Board Chair Jim King reports that over 1,800 acres of farmland recorded in the Present Use Value tax registry has been placed in within the Farmland Preservation Districts outlined in the ordinance. Under the ordinance guidelines, farmers in the tax registry can place part or all of their agricultural lands - totaling over 25 acres either on their own or combined with other farmlands within a mile — into the preservation districts. suits by adjacent landowners who move in and may object to farm operations. New landowners will be apprised of which lands are recorded in the program by notices in the county courthouse. King calls that portion of the ordinance a key factor in its success; "an ounce of prevention," King said. :LL J -_..._ _t - .- ..I :- -- 1 ------------ Condemnation proceedings against farmland p eservation properties must be preceded by a public hearing, and municipal water and sewer cannot be forced through farmland preservation lands, or landowners forced to pay for those services. King said that the "word has gotten out" that the program is voluntary and that lands placed in the program can be --- :1L - 1 -i1 -- 1_ - A I /R/?00? 9.00 AM The Mountain Times - The High Country's Home Page http:// www. mountaintimes .com/mtweekly /12 -27- 2001 /farm.php3 witnurawn at any Lime tur any reason with a ieuer to the Huv(sory Doara. Q WINNER 1st place Best Non -daily Newspaper Website, National Newspaper Association, 2000 2nd place Best Non -daily Newspaper Website, National Newspaper Association, 2001 they are planning to sign up," King said. Interest in the program has spread across the farming community, King said; placed within the districts, King said. "We have ordered the farm signs," King said; a hundred signs to identify the Bureau The Advisory Board is looking at fund - raising opportunities for additional signs, for operational expenses; and for eight signs to be placed at all the road entries to Ashe County, King said. registered in the tax office, and has other pending expenses that will require funding. forward, King said. States in West Jerfferson, and can be submitted at any time, with decisions made by the seven - member advisory board at monthly meetings. King encouraged prospective farmers, or those not already recorded in the present use value tax registry, to do so in January, the only month to apply for that program. HOME - NEWS - EVENTS - MARKETPLACE - CLASSIFIEDS - VISITOR INFO - CONTACT ©2001 The Mountain Times. All rights reserved. 130 North Depot St / PO Box 1815 • Boone, North Carolina 28607 Telephone 828.264.6397 • Fax 828.264.8536 EMAIL: f oiitdcsl:(rz i7rountaintintes.com OR see our Contact paec for individual emails 1 /RMnm 0 •nn Ana Grants to help protect N.C. land Page 1 of 2 21 try' u ..c ;r.:1 a.:. , c` {.. ,: i �.•• ]r Site Updated: 12:02 PM I MONDAY, J Go To Section SEARCH ARCHIVES: Full Text Arc k - Letters to thi Subscribe tc f- Triangle r- NC r Nation/World (,Columnists r- Editorials Place a Disp Place a Cla: TODAY: news: News Shortcuts Contact The Published: Monday, January 14, 2002 1:37 a.m. EST About The N Top news, Grants to help protect N.C. land .: weather and movie times in your palm. By RICHARD STRADLING, Staff Writer STORY TOOLS News, movie — .- times and printer friendly version }j more in your The state Agriculture Department will send this story o a friend ry(� mailbox. announce today that more than $150,000 from this year's Farmland Preservation Trust SITE TOOLS CURRENT: Fund will help protect 1,220 acres of land Overcast 48 °F across the state -- none of it in the Triangle -- subscribe to our e-mail lists TODAY: High 58 °F; Low from development. get news, weather, movies on 10 38 °F. Breezy later. your PDA TOMORROW: High 58 °F; The state will divide the money among eight Low 30 °F. Sunshine and farms in seven counties. The grants, none IT mild. larger than $24 000 will be used to pay for surveying and for other costs of Bridges to the mainstream Dole buys mother's Salisbury home Signs better for NCSU Peterson's defense to put police on trial Democrats get ready for District 13 contest Life interrupted Council: Mobile homes in city? Plea for sympathy has begun Grants to help protect N.C. land Mason Inlet on the move Charlotte's execs on rescue mission Salvation Army members say 'Hallelujah' to longtime worker Flood fixes begin at police facility 1 1 placing conservation easements on the farms. The easements allow the farmers to keep their property and continue farming but transfer the rights to develop the land to a local conservation group. The state received nine applications for this year's fund, but none from the Triangle. Last year, local governments and private land trusts received nearly $800,000 from the fund to acquire conservation easements on about 418 acres in Durham, Orange, Harnett, Chatham and Alamance counties. Durham County received $250,000 to cover a fraction of the value of a conservation easement on nearly 55 acres of the 130 -acre Herndon family farm, which sits within a half - mile of The Streets at Southpoint mall. The Herndon family donated the rest of the easement's value. This year, the conservation easements are in Watauga, Gaston, Hyde, Pamlico, Transylvania, Union and Randolph counties. Shopping: ',p Current F Weddings # e -mail an Travel • Travel Br • Travel Di; This year's fund was the smallest since the fund was established four years ago. The fund peaked last year at $1.4 million; it must be, replenished by the General Personals Assembly every year. people2p Staff writer Richard Stradling can be reached at 829 -4739 or rstradli @newsobserver.com Feedback 11 Parental Consent 11 Privacy Policy II User Agreement C Tn Spntinn 1 . ;,. Jobs: * Post your * Search 11 Jobs at T http : / /www.newsobserver.com/monday/ news /Story /903591p- 902714c.htrnl 01/14/2002 22 � a Landmark farm plan Unique program allows open space to be leased for agricultural use January 18, 2002 By TIM TESCONI THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Green belts around Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park will be plowed into food belts this spring as Sonoma County moves forward with a unique public - private partnership to encourage farms on the urban edge. In a program that could be the first of its kind anywhere in the country, Sonoma County will lease public land that has been permanently protected from urban development to farmers for fruit, vegetable, herb and flower production. Supporters say it's a way to preserve family farms, maintain the county's rich agricultural heritage and give urban consumers a local food source. "We've saved the land from being developed. Now we are going to the next level to preserve small -scale agriculture in Sonoma County," said Andrea Mackenzie, general manager of the county Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, which is funded by a quarter -cent sales tax. Mackenzie said research by her staff has not found a similar farm program elsewhere in the nation. Other areas are already contacting the district seeking guidance in putting working farms in green belts. Sonoma County's lease -back plan to farmers is part of the Small Farm Initiative that was developed by the Open Space District and agricultural groups concerned about the loss of family farms. Two parcels -- 20 acres off Snyder Lane near Rohnert Park and 17 acres north of Santa Rosa near the Charles M. Schulz- Sonoma County Airport -- will be available to farm this spring. Farmers have until Feb. 8 to submit applications to lease the land. If successful, another 150 acres of green belt land could be put up for lease in the next two to three years, said Kathleen Brennan - Hunter, an Open Space District planner working on the project. "We want to get farmers on the ground as soon as we can," Brennan - Hunter said. She said priority will be given to farmers growing crops other than wine grapes. "Vineyards seem to be doing well on their own," she said. The goal is to curb loss of the diversified farms that have been Sonoma County's agricultural hallmark. Urban development and vineyard expansion during the past decade have caused a sharp decline in the number of artisan food producers, the mom -and -pop growers who gilded the county's image as the Bay Area's specialty food basket. Agricultural leaders said new approaches are needed to encourage new farmers Because farmland prices are escalating beyond the investment value for any crop other than wine grapes. Apple orchards, pumpkin patches, vegetable and Christmas tree farms are going to vineyards because grapes are more profitable. r2 3 "This is a ray of hope. A program like this is needed because there are very few reasons for rational people -- even those who love agriculture -- to continue to go against the odds," said Michael Dimock, executive director of Select Sonoma County, organized in 1989 to market the county's farm products. Membership has drastically declined and the group has been struggling for survival. Public land on the urban fringe gives farmers access to valuable ground that otherwise would be out of their financial reach, Dimock said. "It makes land more affordable and makes farming economically more feasible," he said. "It's one more reason for farmers to hang on." Wayne James, an organic vegetable farmer from Windsor, is among the 20 farmers who have expressed interest in leasing part of the county's green belt. James and his sister, Lee James, have been farming for 20 years by leasing small parcels of ground, moving from one piece to another as the land was developed or converted to vineyards. "We can't afford to buy land in Sonoma County the way prices are today. We want to remain in this area, but if we can't find land, we will either have to move out of the county or quit farming altogether," said James, 45. The Jameses want to lease the 17 -acre parcel near the airport. They envision growing an array of vegetables on the land's Yolo loam soil and fencing off a portion of the property to graze their small flock of Shetland sheep, which produce fine wool for spinning. If the county approves, they would put up a stand on Airport Boulevard to sell their organic produce during the summer and fall harvest season. "We've been dreaming about something like this and are quite taken with farming on a larger piece of ground," Lee James said. "We've been farming for a long time and are pretty good at it. We've developed a lot of loyal customers." The land near Rohnert Park will be leased for $100 an acre a year and the land near the airport will be leased for $125 an acre. A survey by the Open Space District found market rate is $100 to $200 an acre for land used for small -scale vegetable farms. The land will be leased for a minium of five years but longer leases could be negotiated. The Open Space District will develop irrigation wells on the properties. Steve Schwartz, executive director of California FarmLink, a statewide organization that works to get young people into farming, praised the district's efforts to match farmers with available land. "This is cutting -edge work," he said. "It's taking farmland protection to the next level by actually putting producing farmers on land that has been protected." Mackenzie said the Open Space District isn't trying to make money on land that it has already bought with taxpayer money. Rather, she said, it's an effort to utilize land for -food production and retain the small family farms that are so closely linked with Sonoma County's identity. She said she's amazed at the many people who want to lease land so they can farm. "We quickly realized we had a hot commodity," she said. You can reach Staff Writer Tim Tesconi at 521 -5289 or ttesconi @pressdemocrat.com. w 25 NC STATE Uh11VERSITY SharCyt1goe January 2002 A monthly newsletter promoting awareness, understanding and practice of sustainable agriculture 1.5� SO � va Inside This Issue January Workshop ................. ...... 1 Plow Sharing Evaluation ............ 1 Biological Control of Aphids...... 2 Herbs as a Cash Crop .................. 3 Fee for Plant Disease Clinic........ 4 Growth in Organic Sales ............. 4 Specialty Crops School ............... 4 Winter Herb Conference ............. 5 Register for SVP Classes ............. 6 Organic Transplant Production... 6 Joint Berry Conference ............. 10 Calendar of Events .................... 11 Via, I hope you find this newsletter helpful and informative. If you have ideas or suggestions for future issues, call or stop by the office. I always welcome your feedback! Debbie Roos Agricultural Extension Agent 919 -542 -8202 debbie_roos @ncsu.edu North Carolina Cooperative Extension College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Chatham County Center North Carolina Cooperative Extension College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 45 South Street Post Office Box 279 Pittsboro, NC 27312 Telephone: 919.542.8202 Fax: 919.542.8246 January Workshop: Marketing Produce and Other Horticultural Products to Specialty Stores and Restaurants The Chatham County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Ser- vice will offer a marketing workshop as part of its Enhancing Sustainability Series on Wednesday, January 16, from 7:00 -9:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Agricultural Building in Pittsboro. "Marketing Produce and Other Horticultural Products to Specialty Stores and Restaurants" will feature a panel of buyers and sellers discussing marketing guidelines and answering questions. Presenters include James Watts, Opera- tions Manager, Carrboro's Weaver Street Market; Paul Griswold, Produce Manager, Weaver Street Market; Sam Poley, Executive Chef, Chapel Hill's Weathervane Caf6 at Southern Seasons; Ray Christopher, member of Carolina Organic Growers Cooperative and farmer, Timberwood Organics; Bill Dow, farmer, Ayrshire Farm; Alex Hitt, farmer, Peregrine Farm; and Debbie Roos, Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent. The growers have over 50 years of combined marketing experience. Register for this workshop by calling 919 -542 -8202. The deadline for registra- tion is January 14. A S10 registration fee is required to cover material costs. Mail your check for S 10 payable to Chatham County Cooperative Extension and mail to Debbie Roos, PO Box 279, Pittsboro, NC, 27312. Plow Sharing Evaluation Thanks to everyone who took the time to complete an evaluation for Plow Sharing. If you haven't yet turned in your form, it's not too late — I'll accept them until January 10, which gives me time to complete my 2001 work report. I appreciate the wonderful feedback and ideas for future articles. I would like to respond to one comment because people have asked about this before... someone asked if I could include registration fees for conferences that I men- tion, but unfortunately our penalty mail restrictions prohibit me from listing fees for any events other than our own Chatham County Extension events. The best I can do is provide contact information so that you can call or visit a web - site for information on registration fees. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State A & T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. PLO-W sh,aWC 4� Biological Control of Aphids in the Greenhouse North Carolina has many different spe- cies of aphids, and life cycles and host plants vary among species. The green peach aphid is probably the worst pest for greenhouse growers because of its wide host range, broad distribution, ability to vector viral diseases, and difficulty of control. Aphids tend to be very communal and often congregate in groups on the tender parts of plants, preferring new growth shoots and tips and the undersides of leaves. Aphids penetrate plant cells and remove sap with their sharp, straw -like proboscis, The sap is used for energy and then excreted as a sugary, sticky fecal substance called hon- eydew. Black sooty mold fungus will often grow opportu- nistically on top of the honeydew. Other symptoms of aphid infestation include distorted new growth, yellow spots or mottling on upper leaf surfaces, curling leaves, and cast skins on leaves. The presence of ants in the greenhouse can also tip you off to an aphid problem. Ants love to feed on honeydew and will protect aphid colonies from predators and parasites so that they can harvest the sugary goo and take it back to their nest. Ants will even "herd" aphids from plant to plant! Ain't nature great? One of the main reasons aphids are such notorious pests is because populations have a tendency to explode. This is because aphids have the ability to reproduce sexually and asexually. Most aphids are females in the south. These fe- males do not have to mate in order to reproduce, and they often produce live young rather than eggs. Many genera- tions are produced each year. Adult green peach aphids pass the winter in North Carolina on greens and weeds (other species may overwinter in the egg stage). In a greenhouse, asexually reproducing aphids can be present year- round. Both winged and wingless forms may be present, Winged aphids often appear when the J communal living situation ITT becomes overcrowded — some aphids will develop wings so they can fly off in search of a new host plant. Detecting an aphid infestation early, or acting before they even show up, is the key to successful control. Early detec- tion requires proper scouting. Scouting should be performed at regular, timed intervals — once a week (twice a week in the summer), on the same day, at the same time, Record your observations so that you will be able to detect any pos- sible trends. Look especially carefully at plants prone to aphid problems, and at plant parts like the undersides of leaves, buds, or tender new growth. Watch for honeydew and cast aphid skins shed by the developing aphids as they molt through their juvenile stages. Avoid moving infested plants to new areas adjacent to susceptible plants. Flag loca- Page 2 tions where you find aphid populations so you can monitor them, There are several biological control options for greenhouse aphid pests, including green lacewings (Chrysoperla carnea, C. rufflabris, Chrysopa spp.), aphid midges (Aphidoletes aphidi- myza), parasitic wasps (Aphidius colemani and Aphidius matri- cariae), and lady beetles (Hippodamia convergens). The larval form of the green lacewing is a voracious t consumer of aphids and other soft- bodied pests such as scales, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Lacewing lar- vae, often called aphidlions, have flattened bodies that resemble tiny alligators. Eggs or larvae can be released, depending on how quickly control is needed. Adults are sometimes released into orchards to penetrate upper tree canopies, Lacewing larvae are slow to disperse but quick to find and consume prey after their release. The predaceous larvae of the mosquito - like aphid midge (Aphidoletes) are best used for controlling substantial popula- tions of aphids, The adult females lay their eggs in the middle of aphid colo- nies. The eggs hatch into orange larvae that kill aphids by injecting a toxin and then consuming them. If released into high infestations, Aphidoletes larvae tend to kill much more than they eat. This makes them capable of handling heavy pest pressure. Aphidius is a parasitic mini -wasp best used for preventing the establishment of aphids. These parasitoids can also tackle minor to medium infestations. If they become es- tablished they can provide protection throughout the season, except perhaps in late summer. The wasp lays its eggs in the abdomens of aphids. The larvae then hatches and consumes the aphid from the inside, eventually pupating inside the aphid "mummy ". Look for the telltale exit holes in aphid mummies to determine if Aphidius is doing its job. The convergent lady beetle is another vo- racious predator of aphids and other pests. Both larvae and adults are predaceous. ,Lgdy beetles are flighty, but if you water the site before releasing and release in the evening you will encourage them to stick around and earn their keep, Even when released properly, however, 90 -95% will Ely away (release rates should take this into account). But it's the 5- 10% that stick around that do the job. Synthetic food sources such as BiodietThl (a honeydew substitute) are available to help keep lady bee- 26 2 7pzow sl�cwcng, ties from dispersing. Unlike the other biocontrol agents dis- cussed above, lady beetles can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 -3 months, which makes it possible to conduct repeated releases from the same order, saving on shipping costs. I or- dered some lady beetles for a project this summer and stored the leftovers in our plant sample fridge. Every week or so, I would release a few to clean up the scale insects on my of- fice plants. I was never disappointed! Research has found that lacewings perform better in hot tem= peratures, while aphid nudges and lady beetles were better in cooler temperatures. Aphidoletes was better in all tempera- tures at controlling aphids. All of the beneficials discussed above are also effective in field situations. Yoq can farmscape to conserve and enhance existing populations or augment with purchased insects. Small- flowered plants such as dill, mustard, thyme, parsley, Queen Anne's lace, yarrow, and white clover attract Aphi- doletes, Aphidius, and lacewings. Coreopsis, cosmos, sun- flowers, dandelion, goldenrod, buckwheat, and corn also at- tract lacewings and lady beetles. For more information on biological control or other pest management strategies for aphids, call me at 919 -542 -8202 Growing Herbs as a Cash Crop Jeanine M. Davis NCSU Extension Specialist i I encourage growers and would -be growers to consider herbs as a po- %f f _ tential crop because of the tremen- dous diversity of herb enterprises. When vegetable growers consider growing herbs, they usu- ally think of fresh - market herbs, the most popular being sweet basil, cilantro, and flat -leaf parsley. Fresh market herbs can be grown on large acreages for sales to wholesal- ers and chainstores or on very small- acreages for direct sales to restaurants, farmers' markets, and specialty grocery stores. One of the largest obstacles to getting started in fresh - market herb production is the lack of reliable, commercially oriented production information. There is no cookbook method for growing all the herbs. Often, your only option is to try cultural practices appropriate for a crop similar to the herb you are growing. For example, when developing pro- duction information for sweet basil, I started with cultural recommendations for leaf lettuce. One of the most important cultural considerations for herbs is site selection. The site should have good drainage, ade- quate water supply, and few weeds. Remember that few, if any, agricultural chemicals are cleared for use on herbs. Seed selection is also very important. For example, depend- ing on the seed source, a high percentage of basil seed can produce an off -type leaf which may not be marketable. In addition, many herbs, such as members of the mint family, should never be grown from seed and must be reproduced Page 3 vegetatively to obtain the desired characteristics. In North Carolina, most herbs benefit from being grown on raised beds because they allow the soil to warm early in the spring and pro- vide good drainagd. I also highly recommend the use of mulch to control weeds, keep the foliage clean, and to hold moisture in the soil. My research, however, has shown that mulch type can be important for some herbs. For example, I looked at a variety of mulches for basil production, including black plastic, hardwood chips, softwood chips, and straw. All provided good weed control, but fresh wood mulches severely reduced yields. Overall, best results were obtained with black plastic mulch. In most situations, irrigation is- essential, with drip- irrigation being the best choice because it reduces the incidence of foliar dis- ease and permits harvest at any time. In western North Caro- lina, most growers must set out transplants of tender annuals to obtain high early season yields. They also use high plant popu- lations, including double rows per bed and close in -row spac- ings, to get the highest yields per unit land area. Because there are so few agricultural chemicals cleared for use on herbs, the primary method of pest control is prevention. Multiple crops, strict crop rotations, careful sanitation, and small, multiple plantings tend to keep disease and insect prob- lems to a minimum. Because there is so little information avail- able on herb fertilization, a soil test should be taken and gen- eral recommendations for lettuce or vegetable gardens are usu- ally followed. My experience has shown that it is better to be conservative with fertilizer, especially nitrogen, because many herbs lose flavor if they are grown too rapidly. Because the best prices for many herbs are obtained in the off - season, grow- ers may try to extend their seasons with the use of row covers, tunnels, and small, moveable hoop structures covered with plastic. Greenhouse production is also popular and often profit- able. How and when the herb is harvested is critical for a high - quality product. For example, basil should be harvested in the cool of the day, handled very gently, and packed in coolers im- mediately after cutting. If you are creative and organized, there should be little waste. For example, if you have an overabun- dance of fresh basil, make pesto and freeze it. As with any crop, it is important to establish markets before the crop is planted. The most successful growers in North Carolina have been the ones who have been creative with their marketing strategies. For example, for restaurant sales feature an'herb of the week' and provide some free herb and recipes for chefs. Another herb enterprise that has been very successful is pro- duction and sale of herb plants. There is a high demand for bedding plants in the spring and the demand in fall is increas- ing. Unlike some other bedding plants, people want a variety of large, well - established herb plants. They don't buy many of one kind, but one each of many different kinds. This provides a nice little niche for small greenhouse owners who can produce a variety of herbs including annuals and perennials. Herb plants are sold in many ways including mail order, specialty shops, nurseries, and spring fairs and festivals. Another herb crop of interest in North Carolina is garlic, par- ticularly elephant garlic. Many small - acreage growers like gar- lic because it is planted in the fall and harvested in the spring, PZaw Sha+f Cng, allowing them to multi -crop the land if desired. Weed con- trol is critical for good bulb size, and presently, this is all done mechanically. To prevent serious insect and disease problems from developing, a strict crop rotation plan should be followed and only the best bulbs should be used for re- planting. The key to being successful with herbs is, of course, mar- keting. Because of the diversity of herbs and herb products, there are many opportunities for all size herb operations. Herbs are particularly well- suited to small, part-time, family operations where different family members take responsi- bility for growing, making value -added products, and mar- keting. No matter how you sell your herbs, it is important to educate the customer. Most people are fascinated with herbs, but they know little about them. The more they know how to use herbs, the more they buy. One way to handle this is to provide recipe cards with your herbs. If you are selling herb plants from your farm, display gardens will help make sales. Offer tours of the gardens. Describe the plants, how to grow them, how to landscape with them, and how to use them. Provide plans for the display gardens along with a list of plants needed, and have plenty of those plants for sale. Herb fairs and festivals have also proved to be excellent promotional tools and big sales events in North Carolina. During these events, demonstrations and talks are offered on a variety of topics such as how to make pesto, how to use Chinese herbs, and how to make a tussie mussie. People are hungry for herbs and herb products and we have- n't even begun to reach the full potential of what can be of- fered, from plants, to teas, to wreaths, to soaps, etc. You are only limited by your imagination and your abilities to man- age a diverse operation and effectively sell your products. The keys are to take advantage of the many opportunities to market; direct sales, wholesale, mail- order, and craft shows. Keep informed and share information through your state or regional association. Herbs can offer exciting opportunities to many people. To be successful, however, you must be willing to take a different approach to selling then maybe you have ever done before. In my experience, that has been the challenge. If you would like more information about the production and marketing of specific herbs, call Debbie Roos at 919- 542 -8202. Pa e4?A g � A combination of several factors has led to the change in the fee structure: • Funding for clinic operations has been cut by 25% for the fiscal year and may be cut again before the end of the year. • The position of assistant diagnostician was indefinitely frozen after being vacated effective November 1st. The clinic will therefore be understaffed for the foreseeable future. • The cost for supplies and services has continued to rise this year. • This move is in line with an increased general emphasis. on fee - for- service activities by the NC Cooperative Extension Service. Organic Sales Grow 38 Percent from "In Business "Nov /Dec 2001 The Organic Trade Association's (OTA) "2001 Manufacturers' Market Survey" shows sales of U.S. manufactured organic products grew 38% during the past year -- exceeding the esti- mated 20 -25% annual growth for the organic market. Fastest categories between 1999 and 2000 were soy foods and other meat/dairy alternatives (215% growth), meat and poultry and eggs (64 %), miscellaneous canned and jarred products (51 %) and dairy (40% growth), according to the results released in the survey. Starr Track, an independent market research firm based in Arcata, CA, conducted the survey. The survey found that one of the most dramatic changes, when compared to the 1998 results, was the shift to mass market channels. In the 2001 study, less than half (49 %) of organic food manufacturers' products moved through health and natural stores, down from 62% in 1998. Mass market groceries, mean- while, accounted for 45% of organic food product sales in 2001, compared to only 31% in the 1998 survey. For more in- formation, visit the OTA website at www.ota.com. Northern Piedmont Specialty Crops School February 15,2002 Oxford, NC New Fee for Submitting Plant Samples - -- Press release submitted by Carl Cantaluppi, Horticulture to the NCSU Clinic Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Granville and Person Counties. Beginning January 1, 2002, growers will need to pay S 1 to submit a sample to the NCSU Plant Disease and Insect Clinic. This new fee is necessary in order for the PDIC to continue providing disease diagnosis and insect identifica- tions in a timely and professional manner. Growers who submit samples directly to the PDIC (and not via CES or NCDA personnel) will pay S20. The Northern Piedmont Specialty Crops School will hold its annual event on Friday, February 15, 2002, at the Southern Livestock Center in Oxford, NC. The meeting location has changed for the benefit of all who take part in the school. The Southern Livestock Center is a state -of -the -art, brand -new facility that will comfortably seat 29 PLOW sha cytq, the participants and features excellent audio - visual capabili- ties in the Center's meeting room. We will also have an ex- cellent caterer to provide the lunch. The school will start with registration from 7:30 -8:30 a.m., break for lunch, and will adjourn at 3:45 p.m. The school will open with Gary Bullen, Extension Special- ist, with the Dept. of Agricultural Economics at North Caro- lina State University. Gary will outline excellent marketing strategies for direct marketers to follow that will ensure their success when selling to their customers. The southeast U.S. is blessed with a long growing season. Why not take advantage of that and do things to lengthen the growing season to extend your marketing season? Steve Upson, who is a horticulturist at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Oklahoma, has been study- ing how to extend the growing season by using hoophouses. Hoophouses are simple inexpensive portable greenhouses that are placed in the fields of high -value fruit, vegetable and flower crops to gain early maturity in the spring, and to extend the harvest season in the fall. Steve has been growing several different crops in these hoophouses and will give a general overview of how to as- semble the structures, the cost, and how they work on the morning program, and will devote time to specific crops that are well- suited to growing in hoophouses on the after- noon program. As marketing topics are the ones that growers always ask for at the Specialty Crops School, the time has come to in- troduce a new alternative marketing system that is currently being developed to serve growers in the tri -state region of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. This new marketing system will be the opening of a new regional produce auction that will be located in the northern Piedmont of North Carolina or Virginia. Carl Cantaluppi will explain how growers that want to grow large quantities of produce, herbs, bedding plants or nursery stock can par- ticipate in selling at the auction to sell items in lots'that will be bought by buyers on -site. The produce auction concept was explored by Cantaluppi after seeing the successes of auction marketing in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Carl will inform growers about how the auc- tion will operate, including costs, days of operation, etc. It is hoped that growers from a large geographic area can par- ticipate in this auction to serve buyers of small grocery stores, roadside stands, farmers market sellers, garden cen- ters, and specialty restaurant owners. Strawberries that are grown in the Southeast as a specialty crop are almost always grown in combination with drip irri- Page 5 gation and black plastic mulch. This intensive system is known as strawberry plasticulture. The pioneer of strawberry plasticul- ture is none other than Dr. Barclay Poling, Extension Small Fruit Specialist at North Carolina State University who intro- duced the system in the early 1980s. Barclay will go over the keys of the plasticulture system and will "fine- tune" the important aspects, such as costs to grow the crop, and will explain pricing strategies to help you price your berries effectively, so that you can obtain a realistic profit for your efforts. North Carolina is home of the beautiful Biltmore House in Asheville. Eli Herman serves as the horticulturist who grows the fruits and vegetables that are served to the house guests. Listen to Eli as he covers the specialty crops that he grows to pick up and take home some ideas for individuals who might be interested in offering these items at a bed and breakfast, or other tourist attractions. .For a copy of the program, pre - registration form, and a list of local motels, contact Carl Cantaluppi at 919 - 603 -1350. NC Herb Association Winter Conference February 15 -17, 2002 Betsy Jeff Penn 4 -H Camp, Reidsville, NC What better way to get ready for a beautiful North Carolina spring than to im- merse yourself in a week- end of learning more about herbs? This conference will be a learning experi- ence, interspersed with fun and entertainment. Satur- day night fun will feature "The Love Connection" complete with music, po- ems, stories, dancing... a real "Saturday Night Live ". There will be programs geared towards business people in the herb industry as well as the hobbyist. Reservations will be taken on a first come basis. So sign up right away; don't miss this informative conference. Come learn, meet and relax with old friends and make some new friends; all for the love of herbs. The North Carolina Herb Association is a non - profit organiza- tion established in 1986 to promote the production and use of herbs and herb - related products. Membership is open to anyone interested in any aspect of herbs. PLOW Sha.rf n� Scheduled Sessions: • Herbs for Health & Healing • Benefits & Pitfalls of a Website • Heritage Herb Garden • Medicinal Herbs in the Kitchen • All About Goats Milk • Wild Foods • Designing Herb Gardens • E- Commerce & Marketing • Love Potion #9 • Production & Marketing of Commercial Herbs • Feeling Good the Natural Way • Goldenseal Slideshow • Reflexology • Fundamentals of Alternate Crops • Using & Making Herb Vinegars For more information call Jean Turman at 336 - 454 -4517 or email jeanturman @triad.rr.com. Visit the conference web - site at http: / /fletcher.ces.state.ne.us /staff /jmdavis/NCHA. html. Register Now for Classes in the Sustainable Farming Program The CCCC Sustainable Farming Program's spring 2002 class schedule was listed in last month's Plow Sharing. Robin wanted me to remind you to register now for these classes by calling 919 -542 -6495 ext. 225. Two classes - Sustainable Vegetable Production and Composting - will start the week of January 7, 2002. Organic.Plug and Transplant Production Lane Greer, ATTRA Specialist The traditional way to raise nu- merous seedlings is to place seeds in rows in trays, then transplant these very fragile plants into larger packs or pots. This method is very labor - intensive and results in consider- able mortality from transplant } shock or root loss. Since the 1980s, most seed germination has been done in plug trays. A plug is a containerized transplant with a self - enclosed root system. The advantages to growing seedlings from plugs are numerous: less time and labor to transplant, reduced root loss, more uniform growth, faster crop time and increased production. Eighty -one percent of annuals grown in 1993 were grown from seedlings initially grown as plugs. Page 6 30 There are disadvantages to growing plugs, too. Much more at- tention has to be paid to scheduling and cultural practices. While labor is decreased, the need for mechanization is in- creased. Also, specialized, well- trained labor is needed. There are a number of pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to grow plugs from seed or purchase plugs and grow them to transplant size. The advantages of producing one's own plugs include rapid production, efficient use of greenhouse space, growing the desired species and cultivars, and self - reliance. The disadvantages can include extra labor to handle an exacting crop and increased heating costs in winter (since plugs are quite sensitive to temperature fluctuations). Accord- ing to Kessler and Belie, "The decision should be based par- tially on market considerations, labor availability and expertise, the number of plants to be produced, the cost per plug, and the specialized equipment and facilities required. This investment is often not economically practical unless production is large or plugs are marketed to other growers. For most small to medium sized growers, especially [beginners], it is often more economi- -cal to purchase...plugs from specialized growers and concen- trate on producing finished containers. The issue of grow ver- sus purchase should be reviewed periodically as the needs and facilities of the grower change ". The basics of plug production include: • Container size • Media • Seeding and germination • Nutrition • Temperature • Watering and moisture management (especially during germination) • Light and supplemental lighting • Growth regulation • Scheduling • Pest management, especially of fungus gnats, shore flies, and root rots The book Plug and Transplant Production, by Drs. Roger Styer and David Koranski, contains the most extensive information on all the basics listed above and also addresses timely subject matter. Because it focuses on specifics, it is good for trouble- shooting. The book comes with three pullout tables — one each for vegetables, bedding plants, and cut flower plugs. These ta- bles provide extremely detailed information on specific crops. This publication should be on the shelf of every serious plug and transplant grower. In 1990, and again in 1996, the editors of GrowerTalks maga- zine compiled some pertinent articles on plug production into books titled GrowerTalks on Plugs and GrowerTalks: Plugs II. The 1990 edition is no longer in print, but it may be available at your local library. The 1996 edition focuses on the basics mentioned above, as well as automation (transplanters, ship- ping, boom irrigators), plug holding, stress, container size, growing your own vs. buying, seeds and germination, pest con- trol, and culture by crop for eleven species of bedding plants. Greenhouse Grower and Greenhouse Management and Pro- duction are periodicals that address plug production and re- lated issues. Greenhouse Grower produces an annual bonus issue that targets plugs and propagation. GrowerTalks holds an annual plug conference that lasts for three days, usually in October. Although the conference is expensive (usually around $550 for all three days), it would be worth the money to talk with growers from around the country to see what they recommend and discuss solutions to problems. Containers Plugs are produced in multi -cell plastic trays, also called flats. The trays are available in a wide range of cell sizes and depths — anywhere from 50 to 800 cells are present in a sin- gle tray. The type of flat chosen will depend on the species being grown and the length of time spent growing it. Pansies, for instance, are most often grown in 288, 392, or 406 plug trays. The time from sowing to ready- for - transplant stage is usually about 6 weeks in 288 trays and 5 weeks in 392 or 406 plug trays. Larger cells provide more moisture and nutri- ents to the plant, but make much less efficient use of green- house space than the smaller cells. There are also rigid 000000" foam cell trays (such as 0000 00og$a08 Speedling® flats) pp000 00000°aa which, though some- 00000000 s Op��ppp what more expensive 0 000000 '• o000000p�op per unit, have the ad- 0 0 � 0 vantage of both greater o o °durability and "stand- 00000000 ° o alone" ability. Foam o $ a o trays, however, are quite bulky and will not nest for storage. Lightweight plastic trays, in contrast, are quite easy to store in the off - season, and cost less initially, but are less durable and usually require an under-tray to maintain sufficient strength for convenient handling. Heavier, thicker - walled plug trays are better suited to automated equipment. Winstrip® trays have small slits down two sides of each plug, to improve aeration. There are also holes between each cell to allow air movement up through the tray. Plugs grown in Winstrips usually have less root spiraling. Occasionally, growers choose a soil block sys- tem. Developed in Europe some years ago, soil blockers press a soil mix together into cubes that are handled in much the same manner, as peat pellets. Commercial -scale blocking equipment is quite expensive, and many growers find the plants' tendency to grow their roots into adjoining blocks somewhat annoying. Small -scale blocking equipment is also available and has proven popular with some market garden- ers. For more information on soil block methods, see the book The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman. New Research on Containers Research conducted at the University of Georgia during 1995 showed that copper - treated plug flats affected the root gro%k1h and flowering of three species of bedding plants. Ar- mitagc and Gross reported that root spiraling and seedling height were reduced in Impatiens, Pelargonium, and Petunia. The copper treatment delayed flowering for the impatiens Page 7 and petunias by twelve days and 21 days for geraniums, but did not affect their mature heights. Container size can affect transplant characteristics. Researchers at the University of Florida tested four sizes of Speedling flats and found that lettuce grown in the two largest sizes took longer to reach harvestable size, but yield was not affected. In the spring -grown lettuce, there was no difference in head weights, but fall -grown heads started -in the larger cell sizes were heavier. The researchers also tested media compression and found that compressing the media in the cells was not justi- fied because it was more costly and did not increase yields. In research done at the University of Kentucky, marigold plugs were grown in 512, 406, and 288 plug flats over a 16 -day pe- riod. Size did not affect seedling growth until the 13th day, but, after 16 days, seedlings grown in the 512 trays were about two - thirds the size of those grown in 288 flats. Container size also affected root branching: plants from the 288 trays had roots with fewer branches. Of greatest importance to the end user and the plug grower, however, is whether yield after transplanting is affected by container size. Researchers have yet to prove that container size affects ultimate crop yield. However, studies conducted in England in the mid -1990s showed that organically grown vege- table transplants benefited from larger cell sizes. The larger cells held more media and larger quantities of nutrients. Plug flat color has little effect on medium surface temperature, which is important when germinating seeds. Researchers in Tennessee tested black, gray, and white flats, and found no sig- nificant differences among the three colors. Grower Jay Martin in Maryland mixes Pro -Mix Lite@ and compost in proportions ranging from 12:1 to 15:1 (mix: compost), depending on the crop. For example, brassicas, which are quick to finish, are grown in a mix with less com- post; slower - growing solanaceous crops are raised in a mix with more compost. Media In organic production, plant health depends on the quality of the planting mix. Most producers opt for a soilless mix to re- duce the risk of soil -borne diseases. The mix should, for or- ganic production, contain sufficient amounts of the major nutri- ents to carry the young crop for the time it will be in the green- house. Purchasing a commercially prepared organic mix is the easiest way to get started. However, most commercial potting mixes contain synthetic ingredients and do not meet the guidelines of certified organic programs. One alternative is to arrange a spe- cial order from a commercial supplier who agrees to exclude starter fertilizers and wetting agents. Or, since freight is often prohibitive, many growers may choose to mix their own. Equipment: Seeders Mechanical seeders are necessary when planting large numbers of plugs. Seeders are quite expensive, costing from 51,000 to �r..e�Tn�,ri 550,000. There are four types: 1) vacuum template (price range: $1,000— $5,000), 2) vacuum tips or needles ($8,000 - S 13,000), 3) vacuum cylinder or drum ($18,000- 550,000), and 4) electric eye ($10,000—$13,000). The least expensive type is the vacuum template. With this kind of seeder, the seed is scattered over a template that has small indentations on its surface. A vacuum holds the seeds in the indentations, while extra seed is knocked off. When the vacuum is turned off, the seeds drop into place in the plug tray, so the entire tray is planted at once, There are also manual wand seeders that use the vacuum needle system to sow one row of seed at a time. They cost less than $1,000. It is possible to make a simple seeder out of plastic. Dr. Charles Marr developed a planting template in the early 1990s at Kansas State University. Here are his specifica- tions for making a seeder: "The template consists of two sheets of 3 -mm acrylic plastic cut to rectangular dimensions of the seed flat. The upper sheet has a 6 -cm -tall 'wall' glued to the outside with a small opening in the wall at one end, so excess seeds can be poured out. The bottom sheet is held in place by four glued tabs on each side, so that the bottom sheet could slide later- ally. The bottom sheet is left slightly longer with a slot cut as a handle." Holes that are the same size or slightly smaller than the seed that is to be used should be drilled in the plastic. The method of operation is simple: The top and bottom sheets are kept out of alignment. Then the seeds are poured onto the top sheet and rolled around until all the cavities are filled. Excess seed can be poured off. The bottom sheet is then moved into line with the top, and the seeds fall through both sheets and onto the seed mix in the plug trays. Nutrition: Organic Fertilizers for Container Systems There are four basic ways to fertilize containerized plants: incorporate, topdress, liquid feed, and foliar feed. In bed- ding plant culture, fertilizer incorporation in the mix com- bined with liquid feeding should provide sufficient nutri- tion. Organic fertilizers that can be incorporated to provide nitro- gen include: alfalfa meal, blood meal, cottonseed meal, feather meal, hoof and horn meal, soybean meal, and animal manures, among others. Materials that provide phosphorus include oak leaves, bone meal, shrimp wastes, residues from raw sugar, and various forms of rock phosphate. Greensand, granite meal, soybean meal, ash from orange and potato skins, unleached wood ashes, Sul- Po- Mag(ID, and tobacco (stems, leaves, and stalks) all provide potassium. Unless a recognized organic soil mix recipe is used, several experimental batches that compare different fertilizers and rates of incorporation should be tried on a test group of plants. The ATTRA publication Organic Potting Mixes pro- vides numerous recipes for soil and fertilizer mixes. In liquid feeding, nutrients can be delivered by: 1) propor- Page 8 3 2 tioning through drip lines, 2) proportioning through watering hoses, and 3) drenching (from a measuring cup or bucket). Soluble fertilizers may be applied at each watering (known as fertigation or constant liquid feed) in a diluted solution or on a seven to ten -day basis with a concentrated solution. Nitrogen is the main nutrient that is supplied through liquid feeding. Solu- ble organic nitrogen sources include fish powder, fish emul- sion, bat guano, seabird'guano,.worm castings, and manure teas. Phosphorus is available for liquid feeding by using high phosphorus bat guano. Foliar feeding can be used to supplement soil and liquid fertili- zation, especially where certain nutrients are deficient and must be incorporated into the plant quickly. Filtered solutions of ma- nure, seaweed, fish powder, and fish emulsion can be used. Seaweed is an excellent foliar material because it contains growth hormones (auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins) as well as trace elements. Research suggests that foliar feeding pro- grams enhance plant resistance to pest and disease attack. Compost teas are gaining popularity as a foliar feed primarily for their disease - suppressive characteristics. New Research on Fertilization A study conducted in 1998 at the University of Georgia found that nitrogen, rather than phosphorus and potassium mainly determined growth of plugs. The report recommended that growers focus their fertility programs on nitrogen and reduce phosphorus and potassium applications. Often, there are seasonal variations in growth, and the fertiliza- tion system must take this into account. A recent study per- formed in Florida showed that spring -grown tomato seedlings respond linearly to increased nitrogen fertilizer. In other words, the more N applied, the more the plants grow. (The researchers used 15 -75 mg/liter of N.) Ir_ fall -grown plants, however, the opposite -is true. Researchers believe that increased light and temperatures in the fall were responsible for some of the differ- ences in growth patterns. Other research has shown that any- where from 75 -400 mg/liter of N produces the largest tomato seedlings and often increases early yields. Too much nitrogen, however, attracts aphids. In an English study, cabbage seedlings were fertilized with conventional fertilizer, dried blood (applied in a liquid form), and hoof and horn meal (incorporated into the potting media). Dried blood applied at a rate of 3 grams /liter, three times a week, increased plant growth at about the same level as con- ventional fertilizer. In 1993, Premier Peat Moss in Canada conducted research on organic wastes from the agri -food industry and their ability to fertilize greenhouse tomato transplants. The researchers found 3 Pmt, shcwLYL9, that meal from blood, feathers, meat, crab shells, fish, cot- tonseed and whey by- products increased shoot weight by 57 -83% over rion- fertilized plants. The results of this study are shown below. Fertilizer N -P -K Shoot wt. (grams) Crab -shell meal 8.2 -1.5 -0.51 8.8 Blood meal 12.5- 1.1 -1.0 18.5 Dried whey sludge 5.3- 2.5 -0.9 18.3 Feather meal 13.6- 0.3 -0.2 17.3 Fish meal 10.1- 4.5 -0.5 17.1 Meat meal 7.7- 3.1 -0.7 16.3 Cottonseed meal 6.5- 1.1 -1.6 16.2 Fish -scale meal 10.0- 3.7 -0.1 15.8 Distiller's dried grains 4.3- 0.9 -1.1 14.5 Soybean meal 7.5- 0.7 -2.4 14.4 Wheat bran 2.9- 1.4 -1.3 13.5 Alfalfa meal 2.5- 0.3 -1.9 10.8 Canola meal 6.0- 1.1 -1.3 10.8 None (control) 0 -0 -0 10.3 Irrigation Thorough, even watering is extremely important to plug and transplant production success. Water stress sets plants back and increases the chance that they will fare poorly once planted outdoors. Automatic or semi- automatic watering saves a great deal of work, but will not eliminate the need for "touch -up" watering by hand, on a regular basis. The plants will do best, especially when in plastic trays, if they are supported off the ground to allow good air circulation and prevent waterlogging. As a general rule they should not be watered in late afternoon, lest they remain overly wet through the night. Plug cell size will also affect the watering schedule. While in larger containers water must be added to thoroughly moisten the entire medium profile, in shallow containers a less than saturating amount of water can be added without detrimental effects to roots since the water will distribute adequately. One of the most common problems in greenhouses is over - watering. Not only does this contribute to poor plant growth and health, it also encourages the spread of pathogens that thrive in wet conditions. Overwatering is especially easy to do with young plugs; underwatering becomes a problem with older plugs. There are five major ways 'to water plugs: 1) hand watering, 2) stationary sprinklers, 3) traveling boom sprinklers, 4) fog, and 5) subirrigation. Of these, hand watering and subir- rigation are most appropriate for small growers. The biggest problem with hand watering is, of course, labor expense. It is also less uniform than mechanized systems. Subirrigation eliminates both of these problems but can result in over - watering because of immediate saturation. Subirrigation is better when growing larger plugs. New Research on Irrigation A recent study at the University of Georgia showed that Page 9 moisture stress tends to increase aphid populations on New Guinea impatiens and marigolds, but has little effect on spider mite or thrips populations. In experiment, mite populations were lower on ageratum plants that were irrigated with an ebb - and -flow system, compared to overhead - irrigated plants. Researchers at North Carolina State University found that envi- ronmental conditions, rather than plant growth, may dictate irrigation practices. Their other findings were: • Plugs do leach fertilizer, sometimes heavily. • Plug trays (288s) can take 500 -1000 ml of water per tray at each irrigation, depending on environmental conditions. • Winstrip trays used more water and dried out faster than conventional trays. • Plants tended to be larger in Winstrip trays and finish ear- lier than in conventional trays. • Plants may use less than 2% of the water applied to the tray. • Water per tray may be affected more by air humidity than by temperature or plant condition. Light Although supplemental lighting can increase transplant quality, it is generally not needed for most operations. The exception to this rule of thumb is in winter, especially in northern areas of the U.S. Low light levels result in "leggy" plants, so growth regulation techniques are even more important in these kinds of situations. Most growers use high intensity discharge (HID) lamps to light their greenhouses. Growth Regulation Plugs and transplants can often elongate due to light competi- tion, and growers end up with spindly, leggy plants. Conven- tional growers use chemical growth regulators to combat this problem. There are, however, other, non - chemical means to control growth. Brushing is a kind of mechanical conditioning whereby the grower uses a tool (like a broomstick, piece of pa- per, or PVC pipe) to brush the plant tops and reduce their height. According to Garner et al., "Research concerning the effects of mechanical stimulation on floricultural crops is con- siderably more limited than that on vegetable crops, probably due to the availability of chemical growth regulators approved for use on bedding plants ". Researchers at Cornell studied the best ways to brush plants. They used a piece of polystyrene foam on tomato seedlings and found that ten strokes a day was enough to reduce the height by about 20 %. Using more than about ten strokes a day was inef- fective, and there was no difference between applying all the strokes at one time or spreading them out over a longer period. No matter what the seedling height was when brushing began (6, 8, or 10 cm), the reduction in height was 3 mm per day. In another study, researchers studied the effects of brushing on tomatoes and on four species of bedding plants (geranium, im- patiens, petunia, and pansy). For the tomatoes, they found that 10 -20 daily strokes were enough for height control, that there was no difference between morning and afternoon brushing, 3 ti farmland --presery n report Covering the policies, practices and initiatives that save farmland and open space Since 1990 e Deborah Bowers. Editor OFFERS ADJUSTED FOR INCOME Virginia programs exclude "wealthy" farms BERRYVILLE, VA — The Clarke County Board of Supervisors will consider next month a pro- posal for a farmland protection program that would adjust appraised easement values based on the incomes of applicants. The program is mod- eled on one in operation in Albemarle County, Va. The restriction is unique among the nation's local programs. Under the proposal, applicants whose household incomes are under $50,000, would re- ceive 100 percent of appraised easement value. Households earning above that level will have their appraised values discounted, receiving from 94 percent value to as low as four percent of their appraised easement values.. The Clarke County program would be the sixth local purchase of development rights (PDR) program in the state, including a proposed pro- gram in neighboring Fauquier County. With Vir- ginia Beach having the only well - established pro- gram, three counties have created programs in the last year: Albemarle, Loudoun, and James City Counties. According to the Clarke County proposal, submitted by a citizen committee, "the purpose of adjusting the appraised easement value by income is to focus the available funds toward lower and middle - income property owners. Higher income owners who donate easements benefit from a fed- eral charitable tax deduction and a Virginia tax credit." Albemarle County is the only local program known to be assigning easement value based on a scale of income levels. Albemarle, which sur- rounds Charlottesville, approved its first round of five.projects costing $1.2 million on Jan. 9. Each of the projects was subject to the income test. According to Wayne Cilimberg, director of the Albemarle Department of Planning and Com- munity Development, the income -based valuation approach came about "because the committee that made the recommendation to the Board did not want this to become a freebie for wealthy land- owners who could donate. It was targeted to those who would be least likely to be able to provide an easement because they couldn't benefit from a tax credit. Also, it was the best way to get to the working farmer." The Piedmont region of Virginia, home to productive horse farms, has also produced the state's highest number of conservation easement donations. In Albemarle County, 27,948 acres are preserved and in nearby Fauquier County, 39,783 acres are preserved through donation, according to (Continued on page 2) Volume 12, Number 3 January. 2002 Farm bill due back in action this month ...............4 Top PDR states facing budget shortfalls ..............5 Viewpoint: "Tipping Points" are local ................6 NewsBriefs ................ ............................... 6 Job Postings .............................. ...............7 Farmland Preservation Report is published by Bowers Publishing, Inc. 10 times per year. Subscription rate of $205 includes index and hotline services. Editorial and circulation offices: 900 La Grange Rd., Street, Maryland 21154 • (410) 692 -2708 • ISSN: 1050 -6373. © 2002 by Bowers Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in any form, or electronic forwarding of this material without permission from the publisher Is prohibited. 35 Page 2 farmland preservation report January 2002 Adjusting offers on income called problematic (Continued from page 1) the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, which holds the easements. In Clarke, 10,603 acres are preserved and in Loudoun, 11,548. Like Clarke and Albemarle, Fauquier is de- veloping an easement program that seeks to ex- clude farms that could donate easements, but in place of an income test, is targeting an area of the county where dairy and crop farms predominate. Basing easement offers on a property's sup- posed ability to donate easement value could jeop- ardize a program's outlook, according to some ex- perts. Mary Heinricht, Mid- Atlantic Field Director for the American Farmland Trust (AFT), said a widely held belief in the region that public funds should exclude landowners perceived to be well - off, is driving the income -test approach. "There is a real concern that if they started purchasing easements on these types of operations, that donations would decrease." Bob Wagner, director of Field Programs and Land Protection for AFT, said he would want to encourage Clarke County to start a program, but would also like "to help them see the issues before- hand ... I think that discounting the offer price can be real problematic. While attempting to reduce the benefit to those who need it least, you run the risk of creating a disincentive for successful farm- ers as well." Wagner pointed out that some state and local programs focus program goals on full -time, suc- cessful farms through point systems and ranking methods that include consideration of income or investment in farm infrastructure. The Maryland program historically has en- couraged participation of higher- income properties through the bidding system, in which the land- owner can bid low, be paid for part of the value of the easement, and gain tax benefits for the portion of value that is donated through "bargain sale." "Clearly, in Virginia, there are many [farms] considered well -off. But there are very successful farmers out there too. You would want them to par- ticipate," Wagner said. Tom Daniels, planning professor at the State University of New York and former director of the Lancaster County (Pa.) Agricultural Pre - serve Board, said the Lancaster program didn't take off "until we did a deal with a leading farm family — a top producing, diversified operation. This is the irony of the PDR thing. If you can get your leading farmers to participate, it's tre- mendous advertising, because it's understood to be a business decision." "The Albemarle approach is much more risky," Daniels said. "The thing to keep in mind is whether you are trying to preserve the land or the farmer ... why should you pay a guy with 250 acres who's milking 70 cows and just get- ting by, and discourage the farmer who is mak- ing $100,000 a year and is a good manager? It's going to create a lot of bad feeling in the farm community." The Lancaster County program considers an applicant's income level in its points -based appraisal formula, but the factor is weighted at just 10 percent of the overall score, Daniels said. But according to Ches Goodall, adminis- trator for the Albemarle program, higher - income farms can make up for the discounted offer by taking advantage of tax benefits. "The program has had some detractors," Goodall said. "Some wealthy property owners said their property is just as worthy for preser- vation as others." They can still participate and receive a certain percent of the appraised value. Besides, he said, "some balance below the 100 percent value is best for tax benefits" The proposed Clarke County program, before the county board in February, would use a point system to prioritize applicants, requiring a minimum of 75 points from a total of 100 to participate. Fifty points are derived from the county's Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) system, and fifty points are based on natural, scenic and historic resource factors. The county expects to pay between $1000 and $3000 per acre. The proposal recommends establishing a (Continued on page 3) January 2002 farmland preservation report Status of local PDR programs in Virginia Loudoun Co. In operation; 0 acres completed Clarke Co. Proposed; Albemarle model Fauquier Co. Proposed; targeted area City of Va. Beach 5,000 acres preserved Albemarle Co. 5 projects approved; income test James City Co. Enacted; non - Albemarle model Conservation Easement Authority that would set up operational procedures, publicize the program, identify high- scoring parcels, and apply for matching funds from Virginia's Land Conserva- tion Fund. Funding would initially come from the county's general fund, federal and state grants and private sources. The citizen committee rec- ommended the county annually set aside reve- nues from its deed tax, rollback penalties for ter- mination of agricultural use assessment, and rec- ordation tax, all three generating about $178,000 annually in the county's $15 million budget. Clarke County has been in the forefront in Virginia in its attempts to protect rural lands over the past 20 years, most notably as early as 1980 establishing sliding scale zoning. The method differs from conventional zoning in that the num- ber of allowed dwellings in relation to parcel size decreases as the parcel size increases. Parcels of between 80 and 129.99 acres are allowed four development rights, a density that compares fa- vorably to the most restrictive agricultural zoning found in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The zoning also restricts the maximum lot size to two acres, with a minimum lot size at one acre. Northern Virginia block of programs Clarke, and its neighbors Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, make up a block across the Potomac River from Maryland's Montgomery and Frederick Counties. The three counties not only share boundariessbut a -desire to retain agri- culture and the scenic and historic resources that characterize the region. Potentially adding to this block is neighboring Culpeper County, which has in- cluded farmland protection for discussion in its Page 3 upcoming strategic plan. In addition; across the state line, north into West Virginia, adjacent Jef- ferson and Berkeley Counties have been develop- ing local programs. Fauquier County, noted for its high number of acres under easement through donation, is de- veloping a program that will target more conven- tional farms in an area south of Warrenton where dairy operations predominate, and where a power plant soon to be constructed has promised $1.5 million for farmland preservation within a five - mile radius. The target area is adjacent to Culpeper County. Like Albemarle, Fauquier's payment scheme differs from all other local programs. It will use a valuation formula based on a property's number of development units, which, like in Clarke County, are determined by a sliding scale allocation. The county will pay $20,000 per de- velopment right. In addition, farms must earn at least $25,000 gross income and be zoned for agri- culture or rural conservation. "We hope [the program] will come out of the Ag Advisory Committee this month," said Pe- ter Mitchell, program administrator in the county Agriculture Development Office. "We've got sev- eral landowners who have expressed interest. It's a reasonable level [of payment]. The numbers do work out." Deed searches are necessary, Mitchell said, to determine whether a parcel has been subdi- vided, an action that would reduce the number of development rights under the sliding scale zoning. One farm of about 460 acres has 49 development rights, which would cost the county $980,000 to preserve. In addition to the funds promised from the power plant, Mitchell said the county looks poised to allocate general funds. Loudoun County, which has long been at- tempting to save its remaining farmland from a persistent onslaught of sprawl from Washington, D.C., inaugurated a PDR program last year and has $8 million on hand for its first and second rounds. Ten properties are before the county board, comprising 1,875 acres. The program is conventional, using appraisals and paying by the acre. The county will also attempt to preserve (Continued on page 4) 36 37 Page 4 farmland preservation report (Continued from page 3) acres in large contiguous blocks, starting with its first block of 450 acres, according to program di- rector Michael Kane. Approvals are. expected at the end of January. Latest PDR is in Tidewater region James City County is better known for its historic treasures — Williamsburg and James- town — than for its farmland, which figures only minimally in the county's land base of 94,000 acres —just 5,500 acres in use for crops. "The good news is, that's a good reason to protect it," said Michael Drewry, program admin- istrator in the county's Department of Community Services. Drewry is set to administer a newly en- acted program, which will open its first applica- tion period this spring. He said the county is pre- dominantly timberland with "pockets of good farmland" that made the program develop with plenty of flexibility for open space and historic and scenic resources. The program also took its cue from Albe- marle, using the language "but not the program," Drewry said. "We deleted a lot. Ours is not going to adjust for income." The program will use a point system for ranking and appraisals for valua- tion. Drewry said working farmland will rank highest in the points system. The county is concerned about development affecting how tourists enjoy historic sites, and has in the past stepped in to purchase properties that were in danger of development. City led way for counties Virginia's only other local PDR program is in the City of Virginia Beach, which was the state's lone PDR program for six years. In 1995 the city's Department of Agriculture targeted 20,000 acres in its southern rural area, and adopted the use of installment purchases from Howard County, Md., to stretch its dollars. Last May it celebrated 5,000 acres protected. Contact: Chuck Johnston, Clarke County, 540 955 -5100; Wayne Cilimberg, Albemarle, 434 296- 5823, ext. 3254; Mary Heinricht, AFT, 540 829- 5220; Peter Mitchell, Fauquier, 540 349 -5314; Michael Kane, Loudoun, 703 737 -8868; Michael Drewry, James City County, 757 259 -3161. etcetera ... January 2002 Farm bill due back in action this month WASHINGTON, D.C. — Time ran out for passage of the farm bill prior to holiday re- cess, with Republicans working to block a vote on legislation that would have included $850 million for the Farmland Protection Program. But Congress is returning Jan. 23, and Democrats will likely take up the farm bill as soon as possible. Fifty-four members of the Senate voted to end debate and move the legis- lation forward, but 60 votes were needed in the waning hours before Christmas recess. "At some point the Republican lead- ership made the call that they weren't going to let it happen," said Russ Shay of the Land Trust Alliance. Since then, the White House has promised it will support the $171 billion farm bill when it comes back, even though it held all along that it was too costly and continued a historically flawed commodity subsidy system that contradicts the administration's free mar- ket philosophy. A strong bi- partisan plan to end the subsidy system and move to- ward payments for conservation failed by a narrow margin. The farm bill will likely be scruti- nized as Congress begins work on the budget. Public criticism of subsidies to corporate ag operations is certain to grow following internet publication by the Environmental Working Group in December of all the names of producers nationwide, and the subsidy amounts re- ceived. January 2002 farmland preservation report Top PDR states facing deficits The mid- Atlantic states are facing major revenue shortfalls as legislatures gear up for new sessions this month. In Maryland, revenue shortfalls were projected well before Sept. 11, and as the 90 -day legislative session began Jan. 9 the figure was set at $500 mil- lion. But state officials were not predict- ing drastic measures or poorhouse spending for non - essential programs. A spokesman for Gov. Parris Glendening said that compared to other states, Maryland would easily weather the downtown and programs would not see significant cuts. Virginia's deficit was logged at more than double Maryland's, at $1.3 billion, and that's just the beginning. Projections show the next two years will be even. worse, each bearing $2 bil- lion deficits. Prospects for funding of newly created programs like the Agri- cultural Vitality Program are dismal, indeed. A solid 43 percent increase in spending over the last five years, along with about 50 tax breaks enacted during the same period, has put Virginia through a boom, and now, a bust. New governor Mark Warner has warned Vir- ginians of pending program cuts and possible layoffs for state workers. In Pennsylvania, legislators have been briefed on a $622 million esti- mated shortfall for fiscal years 2001 — 2002, with pending budgetary freezes. "A few bills seek more funding for the farmland program, but there's no money swinging into the budget sea- son," said Kristen Ebersole, staff to Sen. Mike Waugh, agricultural committee chair. ` Page 5 Carroll sends density to ag zone; state may withhold PDR funds WESTMINSTER MD — The Maryland Secretary of Planning, armed with a mandate from Gov. Parris Glendening to get tough on bad zoning, told Carroll County Commissioners last month that they better reconsider a transfer of develop- ment rights program that will, if not repealed, in- crease the number of building rights in the county's ag zone. At stake: $400,000 in state farmland preservation funds this year alone, and the state's certification of the county's program. The new law, passed by the Commissioners in September, will allow landowners to transfer de- velopment rights out of the county's conservation zones, generally along stream corridors, and into its agricultural zone. State planning officials warned the move would add an extra 4,300 new homes in the county's rural zone, including tar- geted farmland preservation areas. Using the new law, affected landowners effectively increased density from 1 :20 to 1:3. Meeting with the commissioners in Decem- ber, Secretary of Planning Roy Kienitz cancelled a deadline of mid - January for the county to act, indicating that as long as officials moved forward in addressing increased density concerns, he would hold off on a decision regarding the county's expected farmland funds. Under the law, owners of property affected by environmental constraints would be able to trans- fer their development rights, regaining on agricul- tural land what they lost to steep slopes and criti- cal areas in the county's conservation zone, which covers about 54,000 acres. Kienitz warned that no development propos- als were to be approved by the county, or decerti- fication of the county program and loss of funds would occur immediately. State and county plan- ning staff are working on possible compromise solutions, with a report to the county, due Feb. 15. The county's program had preserved 37,190 acres on 309 farms as.of Dec. 15, adding 3,854 acres in 2001, "the best year we ever had, ", said administrator Bill Powel. 3E FAUI am Page 6 farmland preservation report January 2002 VIEWPOINT Federal dollars will help, but true "tipping point" is local BY TOM DANIELS Contributing Editor At the American Farmland Trust's national conference in Illinois two months ago, several speakers spoke hopefully that farmland pres- ervation would soon reach a "tipping point," a time at which the mo- mentum for farmland preservation would make its spread across the nation irresistible. The 2002 Farm Bill, still under consideration in the Senate, looks ready to provide substantial long -term funding — proposals run from $50 million to $850 million a year— for farmland preservation grants to state and local governments and land trusts. This should be enough federal matching money to convince more state and local governments to create or expand farmland preservation programs. Future federal funding is likely to be spread far and wide, as it was in 2001. State and local governments that expect to rely upon federal money for nearly half of their funding will be disappointed. But federal funds are key to spurring and sustaining additional local programs, which in turn, can generate the tipping point. That's important. But the tipping point at the national level — mean- ing number of programs - won't occur unless those programs are suc- cessful in generating a tipping point of their own — meaning quality of programs and local agriculture. The tipping point at the county level seems to happen when farmers preserve around 20,000 acres. This much preserved acreage sends a message to the farm community, the developers, the politicians, and the public. The farmers gain a sense that they won't be pushed out. De- velopers recognize that large areas of preserved farmland (ideally to- gether with strong ag zoning) mean that they should look elsewhere to build. The politicians can point to the success of the local preservation effort. And the public gets to see a substantial amount of permanently protected open space. Some urban - influenced counties and towns, however, will never be part of the tipping point because they do not have enough farmland or farmers left; nor do they have the land use controls in place to limit sprawl into the farming areas. The public may want to keep the farm - land, and the politicians may be willing to provide substantial dollars, but a large number of the farmers can't be enticed to preserve their land because they don't see a future in farming. Farmland preservation programs continue to be enacted in urban - influenced counties in the nation's major metropolitan regions. But consider this: there are only a few dozen of these counties where a (Continued on page 7) news briefs In Virginia ...When the chair- woman of the Accomack County Board of Supervisors called the American Farmland Trust's cost of community service studies "not credible," it set off a public debate about the cost of development and the value of farmland preservation. The AFT had requested the county's support in conducting the study. Accomack County is on the state's Delmarva Peninsula. Both Frederick and Culpeper Counties have agreed to assist in AFT cost studies. Despite budget problems, a bond proposal for open space preservation is on the agenda, with $30 million targeted for the state's Agricultural Vitality Program, es- tablished last year. Tayloe Murphy, an attorney well- versed in land preservation, has been appointed Natural Re- sources Secretary. "He's been following what we've been doing and he's pretty receptive to our ideas," said Mary Heinricht of the AFT Mid - Atlantic Field Office. in Pennsylvania ... Mary Bender is the new Farmland Protection Bureau Director. Bender has been the Department of Agriculture's Policy Director since 1995. "She knows the program quite well and will do a great job," said former director Ray Pickering, now with the Piedmont Environmental Coun- cil in Virginia. Agriculture Secretary Sam Hayes announced that a record - breaking number of farms — 309 farms totaling 34,225 acres in 46 counties -- were protected in 2001. That breaks last year's record of 283 preserved farms. The new state program total is 1,785 farms totaling 215,243 acres. In Maryland... Five bills will be submitted to the legislature that are products of the MALPF Task Force; first, to reconstitute the task force so It can continue work it left unfinished, including studying statewide acreage goals, funding, installment purchases, and desig- nation of priority preservation ar- eas; a second bill would enable new guidelines on commercial January 2002 farmland preservation report Page 7 uses on preserved farms the task force finalized last year; another bill will create staggered deadlines for applications in an attempt to re- duce time to settlement; a fourth bill would increase the penalty for Premature withdrawal from agricul- tural assessment; and last, a bill to discourage acreage exclusions from agricultural district applica- tions, allowing the board to reject . applications based on the degree to which adjacent development on excluded lands will affect the re- maining portion. Maryland has a 90 -day legislative session. In Michigan... The state program's only funding comes from the repay- ment of tax credits from termination of Farmland Development Rights Agreements, which generates about $2.5 million annually. The fund has to build up $5 million be- fore funds can be spent, and may have two years to go. Currently, 56 easements have been completed, comprising 13,600 acres. The next Ultimate Farmland Preservation Tour is slated for April 4-8. In New Jersey ... The state has 86,720 acres acres preserved on 635 farms, with between $50 mil- lion and $80 million to spend annu- ally. In Utah ... The Governor's Office of Planning and Budget reports that 9,400 acres have been pre- served with conservation ease - ments,with $2 million annually. In Illinois ... The state's first and only local PDR program, in Kane County, hopes to soon complete its first deal --a fee purchase of a farm. Its $5 million fund allows for fee and easement purchase. In California ... Ventura County voters will vote in March on crea- tion of an open space. The district would allow a tax increase for fund- ing of easements and fee purchase for farmland and parks. Lake County will try to stem loss of its pear orchards, which have been suffering from low wholesale prices. The county conservation district will apply for funding and has applicants ready. The state program ha- 6aved 13,500 acres in 12 counties in the last five years. In West Virginia ... The legislature will consider two bills that would enable qualifying localities to use techniques such as TDR and to increase the local transfer tax to pay for PDR programs. The bills were submitted by Jefferson County, adjacent to Maryland's Washington County. healthy farming economy generates more than $50 million a year in gross sales, and where more than 100,000 acres are in farm use. These counties need to preserve a minimum of 20,000 acres, and preferably double that number, as well as adopt adequately restrictive zoning, to assure a future where new development occurs away from ag areas. Currently, only 16 of these counties have reached or exceeded the 20,000 -acre mark, either through a state program or operating a local program or both. These are the metro counties that have reached the point where farming, even in the face of rapid growth, is beginning to look permanent because of farmland preservation and the commitment of local farmers to stay in farming. That's the tipping point at the local level. The tipping point equation can't be made up of just number of programs generated by federal dollars or local politics. It has to in- clude the strength and commitment of local agriculture and the success of a local program's structure and implementation. professional resources ... JOB POSTINGS Catawba Lands Conservancy (NC), Land Protection Coordinator- Ten - year -old regional land trust with nearly 4,000 protected acres seeks organized, enthusiastic Land Protection Coordinator. Individual will work closely with land- owners and their advisors to negotiate and complete land conservation trans- actions. Additional responsibilities include fundraising for land acquisition and stewardship projects, field investigations of candidate properties, land steward- ship activities on protected properties, written reports and public presentations. Qualifications: bachelor's degree in natural resources, land planning, or related field; two to three years of experience in land conservation, land planning, or other related field, preferably with land trust work experience. Must have outgo- ing, friendly personality; a self - starter; strong written and verbal communication skills; passion for land conservation and the Conservancy's mission. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Send resume and cover let- ter to: Ron M. Altmann, Executive Director, Catawba Lands Conservancy, 105 West Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28202. (posted 114102) The Nature Conservancy (PA), Conservation Planner /GIS Specialist - The Nature Conservancy, the world's largest private conservation organization, seeks a self - motivated Conservation Planner /GIS Specialist to support our ecoregional and site - planning efforts. This position will compile and analyze GIS data, including topography, vegetation, hydrology, and land ownership, for use in land planning and conservation marketing, as well as prepare maps to inform project teams. Additional responsibilities include sourcing and managing spatial and-other shared data to staff and partners. Excellent communication and teamwork skills, knowledge of natural resource data and management tools, and a familiarity with local geography, conservation issues and organiza- tions necessary. A Masters degree or BS and three years in related field a must. Strong computer skills--'MS Office, ArcView required. To apply, send resume and cover letter to Job #GIS, The Nature Conservancy, 1100 E. Hector St., Ste 470, Conshohocken, PA, 19428. EOE. Visit us at www.nature.org/ careers. (posted 12/21/01) (Continued on page 8) ItU 41 Page 8 farmland preservation report January 2002 (C- d— edfrom page 7) Northern Rockies Initiative, Partnership Project Manager- The Ini- tiative is a coalition of 22 land conservation organizations that, collabo- ratively seek to maintain natural processes that create and sustain the intact environment of the region - portions of Canada, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. The Steering Committee guides daily operations, Is composed of five executive directors from land conservation organiza- tions. Position reports to executive director of Five Valleys Land Trust (MT). Project manager will coordinate land trust activities, develop and foster regional initiatives and multifaceted partnerships, communicate on behalf of collaborative and internally with members, be responsible for message development and marketing, capacity building, fundraising and other assignments. Manager will coordinate closely with Five Val- leys Land Trust Executive Director, Northern Rockies Partnership Steering Committee and Project Partners. Hours are negotiable. Quali- fications: Minimum five years of experience in land conservation, fund- raising and nonprofit management in a leadership position; Demon- strated facilitation /coordination skills; Clearly demonstrated experi- ences and skills related to the performance of these responsibilities; Ability to work with others in a team situation; Strong verbal and written communication skills; Prefer that candidate live in the Northern Rockies region and be able to travel extensively within the area. Contact: Eliza- beth Bell, Special Projects Director, LTA/NW, 3517 NE 45th Street, Seattle WA 98105, phone, (206) 522 -3134 or by e-mail, ebell@lta.org. Deadline: Feb. 1, 2002 or until filled. (posted 12114101) Skagit Land Trust (WA), Executive Director —This full -time position will manage growing and successful nonprofit land trust located in Skagit County, with office in Mount Vernon, WA. Basic requirements include strong management skills, nonprofit and land trust experience. Degree in business, nonprofit management or natural resources pre- ferred. Salary $35K -$50K DOE. See our Web site www.skagitlandtrust. org for more information. Send cover letter and resume to: Andrea Xaver, President, Skagit Land Trust, PO Box 1017, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, no later than Jan. 31. (posted 1/11102) CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS Feb. 8 -9, State College, PA: Pa. Assn for Sustainable Agriculture's 11`h annual Farming for the Future conference, State College Conven- tion Center. Email info @pasafarming.org or call Lauren Smith at 814. 349 -9856. Feb. 9, Princeton, NJ: "Planning for Success," sponsored by the Land Trust Alliance Mid - Atlantic Program and The Watershed Institute and in cooperation with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. This course is a primer on strategic planning. Held at Princeton University. For more information: 302 - 575 -1233. Feb. 27 -March 1, Washington, D.C.: 5"" National Mitigation Banking Conference, a Terrance Institute conference and sponsored by The Conservation Fund, FHA and others. Renaissance Washington Mar- riott Hotel. See www.terrence.org or call 800 726 -4853. May 17 -22, Ashville, NC: National River Rally 2002, sponsored by River Network, See www,dvernetwork.org or email river - ra lly@ rivemetwork.org . COPYRIGHT NOTICE It is unlawful to reproduce this publication and distrib- ute it to other locations or agencies. If you have a spe- cial need, please contact the publisher. Faster, Friendlier, Smarter! Can't find it on the web? Need a quick answer for an -update? Want to get smart for that up- coming presentation? Call or email us. We're faster, friend- lier and smarter than the web! When you have news — or views — give us a call. We're always eager to hear from you and to provide additional in- formation to help you get up to speed with the nation's best- informed farmland preservation professionals ... FPR subscribers[ Welcome! Phone 410 692 -2708 Fax 410 692 -9741 —E-Mail bowerspub @hotmail.com Address Bowers Publishing, Inc. 900 LaGrange Rd. Street, MD 21154