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Executive Summary <br />Introduction <br />Guiding Principles <br />Overview of Agricultural Activity <br />A. Soil Productivity <br />B. Agricultural Production & Impact to Economy <br />C. Farm Land Use Trends & Family Farm Statistics <br />Challenges to Agriculture in Orange County <br />A. Falling Prices and Low Profitability <br />B. Regulations <br />C. Start-up Costs/Lack of Sufficient Money <br />D. Taxes <br />E. Residential Growth/Development Encroachment <br />F. Markets--Connecting Local Producers with Local Buyers <br />G. Current Trends--Drought (climate change) and Increasing Energy Costs <br />H. Lack of interest from young people (aging farm operators) <br />5 <br />7 <br />15 <br />Opportunities for Enhancing Agriculture in Orange County 23 <br />A. Existing Farmland Protection Tools <br />B. Existing Agricultural Economic Development Programs <br />C. Potential Programs & Initiatives <br />D. Agricultural Funding Programs <br />A New Vision for the Future of Agriculture in Orange County 33 <br />Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 35 <br />A. Protect Farmland as a Valuable Natural Resource <br />B. Strengthen Farm Viability and the Agricultural Economy <br />C. Support Farm Operations and the Right-to-Farm <br />D. Attract and Train New Farmers and Farming Operations <br />E. Foster Greater Recognition and Public Support for Agriculture <br />F. Pursue New Initiatives to Address Increasing Energy Costs & Alternative Energy Needs <br />Implementation Schedule 45 <br />A. Key Stakeholders and Their Roles in Implementing the Plan <br />B. Schedule for Action Steps <br />Authority of County Action <br />49 <br />Draft 6/1/2009 Page v of vi <br />