Agenda - 06-16-2009 - Infor Item 3

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1 are facing and to provide options (tax assistance, land link programs, community gardens, 2 incubators, etc.) to help overcome those obstacles. 3 4 4) Local officials must continue to educate residents on the indirect benefits of agriculture to 5 the community. In 2006, the American Farmland Trust conducted a Cost of Community 6 Services Study for Orange County and determined that on average, for every $1 in revenue 7 raised by residential development, the County must spend $1.24 on services, compared to 8 just $0.72 cents of services per dollar of revenue raised by farm, forest, or open space. 9 This is a significant difference for a county with traditionally high property taxes due to a 10 strong public school system and small commercial tax base. It likewise supports the use of 11 local funds for agricultural conservation easements, since costs will be recovered in the long 12 run. 13 14 5) Local officials must also begin a dialogue with the municipalities in and adjacent to Orange 15 County regarding agricultural issues. It will become increasingly important for the 16 agricultural community to have an opportunity for input as the towns consider new 17 annexations and new land use regulations, because of the potential for unintended negative 18 consequences on farmers. These are the same farmers who preserve rural character, clean 19 water, clean air, and provide locally grown food. 20 21 Orange County has had great success with its conservation easement program, Lands Legacy, 22 particularly in conjunction with state and federal funding programs, but the best long-term 23 approach for a strong agricultural economy is to strengthen existing farm operations and 24 enhance opportunities for new ventures. The 2005 Carolina Agricultural Development and 25 Farmland Preservation Enabling Act and associated Agricultural Development and Farmland 26 Preservation (ADFP) Trust Fund offers North Carolina counties a new opportunity to develop 27 strategic plans for improving the viability of local agriculture and the potential funding to bring 28 them to fruition. The long-term survival of agriculture in Orange County requires three key 29 components: keeping productive soils in operation, making farming more profitable, and 30 producing new farmers and farm operations. Non-farmers must also understand their role in 31 sustaining the agricultural community. Farmers must be able to make a living off the land. 32 Without economically viable agriculture, much of our rural character and its associated benefits 33 to the community are lost, but with careful planning the growing population can contribute to 34 the future of local agriculture as consumers for locally grown and value-added farm products 35 and as visitors for agritourism. 36 37 38 Draft 6/1/2009 Executive Summary Page iii of v