Farmland Preservation – Ensuring natural resources to grow food and fiber:

• Nearly $60 million invested in grants since 2006, preserving 36,000 acres of farmland
• Latest round of investment is $18.2 million; 20 new conservation easements on 1,392 acres
• Stretching our state dollars through our partnership with the military, 23 conservation easements totaling over 13,000 acres have been recorded around military bases.
• An additional 2,886 acres of privately-owned farms and forests Id’d as priority for military training are under contract. Project value for these conservation easements totals $5.8 million, with over $3.5 million in federal funds.

N.C. Forest Service – Ensuring crews are prepared to respond to protect forestland and property and work with landowners

• Gained over $12 million in budget increases following its move to NCDA&CS in 2012 as the need to upgrade aging equipment, add facilities at educational state forests and make long-needed repairs to work areas were prioritized in legislative requests. FY 2012 budget: $35.8 million; today's budget: $56 million
• New forest-focused construction projects/investments since 2016:
  • Mountain Island Educational State Forest -- $30. 6 million
  • New regional headquarters in Duplin County -- $13 million
  • New County offices -- $7 million
  • Improvements at DuPont State Recreational Forest -- $4.2 million
  • New equipment shelters -- $550,000
  • Griffith Warehouse -- $750,000
  • Public restrooms at Guion Farms and Hooker Falls -- $1.8 million
  • Replaced four aircraft  (fixed wing and helicopter) -- $8.6 million

• Hemlock Restoration Initiative
  • $1 million, 5-year partnership agreement with WNC Communities renewed
  • 206 Hemlock Conservation Areas established
  • 138,000 hemlocks chemically treated
  • 130,000 hemlock seedlings produced for sale
  • 7,916 trees treated through landowner education efforts
     

Soil and Water Conservation

• StRAP funds – Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program
  • $58 million invested in stream debris removal to help mitigate flooding; $38 million first round of funding; $20 million in second round.

• IMPEC – Increasing Meat Production and Expanding Capacity grants
  • $44 million investment in four stages to 77 small meat and seafood processing facilities
  • Red meat and seafood processing capacity increased by over 40 % to provide local consumers access to local proteins
  • significant improvements to a to through investments in upgrading equipment have been An additional 2,886 acres of privately-owned farms and forests ID’d as a priority for military training has been contracted through the department’s ADFPTF. Project value for these conservation easements totals $5.8 million, with over $3.5 million in federal funds.

• NCAMPI – N.C. Agricultural Manufacturing and Processing Initiative working to expand local value-added opportunities for produce, meat and dairy products.
  • $12.4 million invested in expanding eight current food manufacturing and processing operations to increase value-added goods and products manufactured in the state.
  • Projects leveraged an additional $63.4 million in private investment in North Carolina.
  • Gives farmers and growers more options close by for processing and distribution.

• RFSI – Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program
  • Investing $6.2 million in small agribusinesses to strengthen the middle of the food supply chain.
  • Grants for equipment and infrastructure projects 

• Pet overpopulation remains a societal and community challenge.
• Working with counties to combat pet overpopulation through spay/neuter funds; $300,000 to $350,000.
• Awarded a total of $250,000 in county grants to help local animal shelters come into compliance with Animal Welfare rules.
• Inspects 203 N.C. animal shelters, 742 AWS-licensed boarding facilities and 14 AWS-licensed pet shops. Also, trains, registers and re-certifies 572 AWS-registered CETs.
• Investigates complaints at regulated facilities.
• Does not have regulatory authority over backyard breeders, commercial breeders, animal cruelty, source of pets in pet shops or livestock. 

• NC Forest Service personnel is on the ground working with local emergency management to clear roadways and assist with rescue efforts.
• The Food Distribution team has been coordinating and delivering emergency food supplies.
• The Animal Welfare Section has been in communication with animal shelters in the region assisting with their needs.
• Agricultural Emergency Operations has been working to coordinate efforts for response and communicate with industry representatives.
• The Western Ag Center is being used as a shelter.
• The Western NC Farmers Market is serving as a distribution site for Manna Food Bank.
• The Food & Drug Protection Division has been working with Grade A dairies impacted to help them get their animals milked. They are also working with other dairies that have not been impacted to be able to bottle water for use in areas affected.
• Members of the Marketing Division’s Livestock team are on the ground working with farmers to address immediate needs.
• The Veterinary teams are in contact with livestock operations to assess needs and work to secure feed, water, and hay.
• The Poultry Health team has been in communications with the hundreds of poultry farms in the impacted area to provide assistance.
• Research Stations cooking for local emergency response workers and serving as a distribution hub for donated items.
• The Soil & Water team is coordinating with districts across the state.
• Financial Services and Payroll teams are working behind the scenes to set up systems for paying bills and entering hurricane – related work time.
• Other Divisions have been working with their respective industries to provide waivers and support. There are countless other divisions and efforts that are underway.