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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPB minutes 111616 Attachment 1 Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board DRAFT Meeting Summary: Nov 16th, 2016 Environmental & Agricultural Center—Conference Room 306 Revere Rd., Hillsborough, NC 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Renee McPherson (Chair), Nels Anderson, Vaughn Compton, Ken Dawson, Howard McAdams, Ashley Parker, Renee Parker, Jane Saiers, Kathy Shambley, Shelia Thomas-Ambat Members Absent: Kim Woods, Gordon Neville, Noah Ranells, Richal Vanhook Guests: None Staff: Gail Hughes, Resource Conservation Coordinator-DEAPR-Orange Soil and Water Conservation District; Peter Sandbeck, Cultural Resources Coordinator-DEAPR, and Mike Ortosky, Agriculture Economic Developer. 1. Call to order: Chair McPherson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 2. Chair Comments/Introductions: None 3. Considerations of Additions to Agenda: None 4. Meeting Summary/Minutes: September 21st, 2016 (Attachment 1): McAdams moved to accept the minutes/summary; seconded by Compton; motion carried. 5. Items for Decision: a) New VAD/EVAD Applications (Attachment 2): Hughes presented the current applications listed below. All of these farms meet the requirements/criteria for VAD/EVAD enrollment.  Michael Mulligan & Alicia Carter: 31.87 acres – New Hope District –VAD Farm consists of 2 parcels located off of old Hwy 86 S. -- 23 acres of Forestry (forestry management plan in file), Christmas Trees, pumpkins, and chickens. Ashley Parker moved to approve the farm for VAD, seconded by Saiers, motion carried.  Beth Myers : 12.15 acres – Cedar Grove District – EVAD Farm consists of one parcel located on Hwy 86 N, - ~ 3 acres of cropland (vegetables – tomatoes, peppers, salad greens, onions, etc.) and 8 acres of forestry. McAdams moved to approve the farm for EVAD, seconded by Compton, motion carried.  Andrew B. Lloyd Jr. and Andy Lloyd – 271.49 acres -- High Rock/Efland District –VAD Farm consists of 4 parcels located north and south of Hwy 70 west. Crops include soybeans, grains, hayland, and woodland (includes a Forestry management plan). Ashley Parker moved to approve the farm for VAD, seconded by Saiers, motion carried. 2  Dennis and Linda Brooks – 113.84 acres – New Hope District – EVAD Farm has a permanent Conservation Easement with Orange Co. on all of the acres. Farm consists of 2 parcels located on Ben Johnston Rd., edge of west Hillsborough Farm ~ 65 acres of pasture, and remaining in Forestry. Compton moved to approve the farm for EVAD, seconded by Ashley Parker, motion carried. 6. Items for Discussion: a) APB Annual Report and Work Plan: review of last year’s report and ideas for next report due in December (Attachment 3): Members discussed last year’s report and brainstormed about what should be added to the new report. Major topics are agritourism and the ongoing question of how to define a “bona fide farm.” Discussion included: defining agritourism, the state definition of a farm, and FSA requirements for farm numbers. McAdams moved to direct staff to incorporate these topics into the work plan, in consultation with the chair/vice chair, seconded by Compton; motion passed. b) Potential APB initiatives/projects and grant funding: McPherson outlined ideas about having the APB apply for a grant from Farm Credit to fund a worthy ag-related project. For example in Ashe County, a Farm Credit grant helped acquire cattle panels and a trailer to loan out to farmers. Members discussed possible projects. For example, PFAP has a vegetable washer that could be mounted on a trailer that could be loaned out. Orange High could assist with fabricating items. The grant cycle is annual; applications are due this coming summer. The maximum is $5,000. c) Update on planning for VAD Breakfast: Hughes reported on the status of planning for the event on Dec. 1 at the Cedar Grove Community Center. Kelsey’s Café will be providing a full breakfast. They now have a head count of 53 attendees with more expected. Gordon Neville offered to donate some of the drinks. McPherson will request a grant from the Farm Bureau to cover the cost of the new small VAD/EVAD signs. Members thanked Hughes for all her hard work on planning for this event. d) Updates from Ag Economic Development: Ortosky provided an overview of current program activities. To date, 44 applications came in from 40 farms; 30 have been approved for over $228,000. At the Breeze Farm, the County continues to work with NC State to get a long-term lease in place by next year. Farm to Fork has been moved to Fearrington, so that will reduce the amount of money we may get for Breeze. PFAP now has a lease with the County for dry storage at the Cedar Grove Community Center. Their first rural business farm tour showcased three farm-related businesses. e) Planning for 2017 Ag Summit: Ortosky gave an update on the planning for the upcoming 19th annual Ag Summit, to be held up at the Cedar Grove Community Center, in late February. The proposed title is “what is a farm.” There will be panel sessions dealing with the “bona fide farm” issues, agritourism, etc. f) Update/report back from the Food Council: Dawson reviewed the status of the council and gave an overview of their goals. The group is still working on organizational structure, etc. This will be a coordinating body that will help bring together and facilitate 3 people/organizations who are doing anything food related in the county. Two UNC grad students did a baseline assessment to look at everything food related in Orange County; they generated a lengthy document with a lot of statistics. The Council will hold two public forums to look at food -related issues, like access and food security, and the whole production/distribution supply chain, looking at markets, marketing, distribution , how to get local food into schools etc. As a grower, his role is to help keep the food council grounded in the realities that farmers face. g) Membership update: Staff reported that Amanda Scherle resigned from her at-large position, creating a vacancy. Please suggest good prospects for new members. Hughes noted that our new VAD applications include a blank where applicants can indicate their interest in serving on the APB, so she can go through those to compile a list. 7. Informational Items/Future Agenda Items: a) VAD Signs: Hughes and the DEAPR crew put up 27 signs all over the county, so you will see more signs out as you drive around. She will order another round of signs this winter to get ready for the new enrollees in the program. 8. Adjournment: Ashley Parker moved to adjourn; seconded by Dawson; meeting adjourned at 9:04 pm.