RALEIGH – The N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund recently awarded over $15 million to protect working farms and forests, support county farmland preservation efforts and promote agricultural enterprises.
More than $12.8 million went towards securing 46 agricultural conservation easements on 5,000 acres of land across the state. These family farms will be permanently protected from development, becoming North Carolina Forever Farms.
“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,” said North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “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.
• NC 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.
-30-