RALEIGH – The N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund has recently granted over $15 million to safeguard operational farms and forests, bolster county initiatives for farmland preservation, and advance agricultural ventures.
Of the total, more than $12.8 million has been allocated to secure 46 agricultural conservation easements spanning 5,000 acres throughout the state. These family-owned farms are now safeguarded against development, attaining the designation of North Carolina Forever Farms.
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“These grants are instrumental in preserving our precious farmland, a resource critical to producing food and fiber today and in the future, and a vital part of our state’s heritage and economy,” North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a press release. “While we celebrate this achievement, there is more work to be done. We must continue investing in our farms, farmers and North Carolina’s future.”
The following is a list of awarded agricultural conservation easement projects:
- Alamance Soil and Water Conservation District received $95,990.50 to preserve a 37-acre farm.
- Beaufort Soil and Water Conservation District received $210,177.50 to protect 209 acres of farmland.
- Buncombe Soil and Water Conservation District received three grants totaling $984,766.90 to preserve 246 acres of working land on three farms.
- Columbus Soil and Water Conservation District received $73,869.36 to preserve a 60-acre farm.
- Conserving Carolina received two grants totaling $759,245.00 to preserve 232 acres of working land on two farms in Henderson County.
- Davie Soil and Water Conservation District received $172,087.39 to protect 17 acres of farmland.
- Duplin Soil and Water Conservation District received four grants totaling $826,873.50 to preserve 716 acres of working land on four farms.
- Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina received two grants totaling $209,649.75 to protect 132 acres of farmland in Cleveland and Rutherford counties.
- Harnett Soil and Water Conservation District received $500,000 to preserve 330 acres of working forestland.
- Haywood Soil and Water Conservation District received four grants totaling $748,197.54 to protect 196 acres of working land on four farms.
- Johnston Soil and Water Conservation District received two grants totaling $413,770 to preserve 70 acres of farmland on two farms.
- Lee Soil and Water Conservation District received $500,000 to protect 65 acres of working land.
- Macon Soil and Water Conservation District received $236,970.97 to preserve 17 acres of farmland.
- Mainspring Conservation Trust received four grants totaling $835,362.50 to protect 196 acres of working land on four farms in Cherokee and Jackson counties.
- N.C. Coastal Land Trust received $114,825.00 to preserve 231 acres of forestland in Craven County.
- Piedmont Land Conservancy received three grants totaling $1,094,755.69 to protect 670 acres of farmland on three farms in Caswell, Randolph, and Surry counties.
- Saluda Land Trust received $500,000.00 to preserve 84 acres of working land in Polk County.
- Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy received $492,050.50 to protect 489 acres of farmland in Haywood County.
- Southwestern NC Resource Conservation and Development Council received $120,812 to preserve 16 acres of working land in Haywood County.
- Three Rivers Land Trust received four grants totaling $1,459,422 to protect 282 acres of farmland on four farms in Cabarrus, Davidson and Moore counties.
- Triangle Land Conservancy received two grants totaling $834,779.75 to preserve 217 acres of working land on two farms in Chatham and Johnston counties.
- Wake Soil and Water Conservation District received $500,000 to protect 36 acres of farmland in Wake County.
- Working Lands Trust received four grants totaling $1,172,301.34 to preserve 452 acres of working land on four farms in Onslow and Rockingham counties.
The following is a list of awarded agricultural plans and agricultural development projects:
- Craven County received $40,000 for a project, Farm to School and Increasing Local Food Consumption.
- Davie Soil and Water Conservation District received $3,889.60 to update the county’s Voluntary Agricultural Districts ordinance.
- Durham County received $15,000 to update the county’s Farmland Protection Plan.
- Forsyth Soil and Water Conservation District received $7,500 to update the county’s Voluntary Agricultural Districts ordinance.
- Hyde Soil and Water Conservation District received $21,649 for a project, Coastal Water Drainage Management.
- Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center at the University of Mount Olive received $99,300 for a project, Expanding Agricultural Education by On-Farm Opportunities.
- Montgomery County Cooperative Extension received $500,000 for a project, Montgomery County USDA Certified Abattoir.
- N.C. Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation received $90,672 for a project, Building Capacity within District Environmental Education Programs.
- N.C. Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation received $336,194 for a project, Building Conservation Easement Partners for Working Lands Protection Phase III.
- N.C. Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation received $416,723 for a project, Advancing Soil Health by Increasing District Equipment Rental Programs.
- N.C. Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation received $80,000 for a project, Advancing Soil Health Through Statewide Outreach.
- New River Soil and Water Conservation District received $5,000 to update the county’s Voluntary Agricultural Districts ordinance.
- Triangle Land Conservancy received $465,000 for a project, Good Ground Initiative.
- Wilkes Soil and Water Conservation District received $133,213 for a project, Mobile Soils Classroom.
