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1 funds can be combined with certain federal conservation funds listed below.20 As of <br />2 December 2008, Orange County has applied for and received $520,000 in grant funds <br />3 from the CWMTF for its Lands Legacy Program. <br />4 <br />5 3. Division of Soil and Water Conservation Agricultural Cost-Share. This program is <br />6 administered by the Division of Soil and Water Conservation in the Department of <br />7 Environment and Natural Resources. It is delivered at the local level by 492 elected and <br />8 appointed volunteer District Supervisors who are assisted by a cadre of experts. <br />9 Participating farmers receive 75% of predetermined average costs of installed best <br />10 management practices (BMPs) with the remaining 25% paid by farmers directly or <br />11 through in-kind contributions. Some applicants may be eligible to receive as much as <br />12 $75,000 per year. Also the program provides local Districts with matching funds (50:50) <br />13 to hire personnel to plan and install the needed BMPs, including Riparian Buffers, Strip <br />14 cropping, and Grassed Waterways.~l In the last four years, funding assistance in the <br />15 amount of $450,000 has been provided through this program. to Orange County farmers. <br />16 <br />17 4. Natural Heritage Trust Fund. Like the FPTF and CWMTF, this fund may be available to <br />18 purchase development rights on properties with outstanding natural or cultural values.22 <br />19 <br />20 5. North Carolina Conservation Tax Credit. North Carolina law allows a credit against <br />21 individual and corporate income taxes when real property is donated for conservation <br />22 purposes. Interests in property that promote specific public benefits may be donated to <br />23 a qualified recipient. Such conservation donations qualify for a substantial tax credit.23 <br />24 <br />25 Federal Conservation Funding Tools <br />26 The adoption of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), marks a shift <br />27 in agricultural policy. The new Farm Bill outlines provisions for more effective and efficient <br />28 programs for land conservation and commodity support as well as a new focus toward food <br />29 security and nutrition needs, renewable energy. As part of its detailed analysis, the American <br />30 Farmland Trust (AFT) identified five key components in the new Farm Bill: <br />31 Strengthened conservation and farmland protection programs. <br />32 An improved government safety net that is better for farmers and less costly for <br />33 taxpayers. <br />34 Support for local foods, farmers markets and healthy diets. <br />35 Funding for renewable energy to advance environmentally responsible energy <br />36 production. <br />37 Dramatic increases in food assistance for families struggling with rising food costs. <br />38 <br />39 The AFT has also prepared a series of fact sheets, one on each of the fourteen Farm Bill Titles <br />40 listed below.24 Funding for the 2008 Farm Bill is still under consideration. Programs in forestry <br />20 GS § 113-145.1 et seq. More information on the fund is available at www.cwmtf.net . <br />zi Other program summaries that assist farmers in controlling non-point source runoff are available at <br />www.enr.state.nc.us/DSWC . <br />~ NCGS §113-77.7. <br />'~ Consult NCGS §§105-130.34 and 105-151.12 for the specific requirements of the CTC Program. For <br />more information see www.enr.state.nc.us/conservationtaxcredit . <br />2a www.farmland org(programs/farm-bill/analysis & http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/FarmBill html . <br />Draft 6/1/2009 Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 30 <br />