ProtectionPlans

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**//Crop- and Forestland Preservation and Conservation//** :: Present Use Value :: Voluntary Agricultural Districts :: Conservation Easements :: Farmland Protection Plans & Programs ======

= Crop- and Forestland Conservation and Preservation =

This report focuses on state-sponsored conservation programs available to regional farmers but federal programs are also available: [|FarmlandConservationPrograms.xlsx]. Many crop- and forestland farms participate in state and federal programs simultaneously.

__**Farmland Protection Plans and Programs**__

**What is this measure?**
County governments maintain viable agricultural communities and address farmland preservation issues by adopting Farmland Protection Plans. According to North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, a plan must include:
 * list and description of existing agricultural activity in the county;
 * list of existing challenges to continue family farming in the county;
 * list of opportunities for maintaining or enhancing small, family-owned farms and the local agricultural economy;
 * plan to maintain a viable agricultural community; and,
 * schedule for implementing the plan and an identification of possible funding sources.

We report the status of farmland protection plans in each county.

Why is this important?
Farmland Protection Plans are an important tool for keeping track of the existing agricultural activity, maintaining viability of the local agricultural economy, and addressing possible challenges. Knowing whether a respective county has an farmland protection plan in place is key to our understanding the state of agriculture at the county level.

What does this measure show?
Most Triangle counties already have a Farmland Protection Plan in place (Table 1). Wake County recently contracted with The Earthwise Company in Wake Forest to develop a Plan with a 2011 publication date. Lee County's Farm Protection Plan is currently under development through a grant received by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) Regional Task Force to fund Farmland Protection Plans for the 11 counties surrounding Fort Bragg.

**Table 1. Formal farmland protection plans in place.**
 * Source: NCSU Agricultural Extension Service; TLC**
 * County || Farmland Protection Plan ||
 * ** Chatham ** || Yes ||
 * ** Durham ** || Yes ||
 * ** Johnston ** || Yes ||
 * ** Lee ** || Under Development ||
 * ** Orange ** || Yes ||
 * ** Wake ** || Under Development ||


 * Authors:** Aimee Schmidt and Elina Inkiläinen, NCSU (CNR) graduate students :: 2010.05.06


 * Reviewers:** Tandy Jones, TLC; Dr. Nancy Creamer, NCSU CEFS Director

Technical Notes
This information was compiled through conversations with Ted Feitshans, North Carolina State University Department of Agriculture & Resource Economics in April 2010, whose research in NC farmland protection produced the Land Preservation Notebook