Agenda - 06-16-2009 - Infor Item 3

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1 Attract and Train New Farmers and New Farming Operations 2 1. Orange County must adopt a more pro-active approach toward attracting new farmers and 3 new farm operations to this region, by advertising for complementary operations, and even 4 offering incentives. 5 a. Develop an economic development model to attract complementary agricultural 6 operations or support operations to the region. 7 8 2. Farmers and farm support staff must work together to teach the next generation about 9 farming, support apprentice options, and promote the pursuit of farming as an occupation. 10 a. The County should expand existing training programs in high schools and work in 11 partnership with local community colleges and the state university system to 12 encourage agricultural students to stay in North Carolina and work on local farms. 13 b. The County should partner with the local school system's community service program 14 to provide non-farm students with an entree into the farming community, to provide 15 them with the land and business skills to consider farming as a career. 16 c. Develop apprenticeship programs, and or mentor programs to partner potential 17 farmers with successful farmers. 18 d. Continue existing programs for young people such as the Junior Livestock Show, 19 Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H. 20 21 22 Foster Greater Recognition and Public Support for Agriculture 23 1. Foster Greater Appreciation for Agriculture Among Government Officials and Non-farm 24 Residents through Education and Outreach Efforts. 25 a. Continue educating county and municipal officials and planning board members on 26 farming issues and basics of agricultural law, as well as °smart growth" strategies that 27 concentrate growth near existing centers and infrastructure. 28 b. Continue efforts to keep members of the agricultural community involved in local 29 government and planning. 30 c. Plan a Cost of Community Services (COGS) study to demonstrate the public fiscal 31 advantages of land use planning for agricultural viability. ACCOMPLISHED!! In 2006, 32 the AFT conducted a COGS for Orange County, and determined that on average, for 33 every $1 in revenue raised by residential development, the County must spend $1.24 34 on services. For each dollar of revenue raised by farm, forest, or open space, Orange 35 County only spends $0.72 cents on services. Based on this study, which is consistent 36 with nationwide trends, most residential development does not pay for itself; the 37 exception is typically very high-end housing or housing served by public water and 38 sewer systems. Likewise, in other COGS studies, including two conducted by North 39 Carolina State University for Chatham County (1998) and Wake County (2001), 40 farmland has been shown to require significantly less in public service (fire protection, 41 water and sewer, police, schools, etc) expenditures than it contributes in tax revenue, 42 even at the lower differential assessment rate afforded under the present-use value 43 taxation system. The results of this study should be publicized to further generate 44 protection of the agricultural economy as sound county fiscal policy. 45 d. The Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator should cultivate local and state 46 media coverage of the benefits of agriculture to the well-being of the county, and 47 should regularly communicate with media about achievements reached under this 48 plan. Draft 6/1/2009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 42