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<br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 2. 1999 <br />Agenda Abstract <br />Item # /O <br />SUBJECT: FINAL REPORT - 1998 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY <br />DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource Conservation PUBLIC HEARING: _ Yes No <br />BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: _ Yes Na <br />ATTACHMENTS: INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Don Belk, Preservation Planner/ 594 <br />Final Report, 1998 Agricultural Survey Sarah Magruder, InterNX2591 <br />PHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Mebane 227-2031 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Chapel Hill 967-9251 <br />PURPOSE: To present a report on the 1998 Agricultural Survey. <br />BACKGROUND: The Agricultural Districts Advisory Board, at the request of the C <br />Economic Development Commission, participated in the update of <br />Development Strategic Plan: Sustaining a Quality Community Thro <br />Economic Growth. During late 1995, ADAB organized a subcommittee <br />Agriculture component for the Strategic Plan update. <br />The Economic Development Strategic Plan was adopted by the Boar <br />Commissioners on May 14, 1996. Within the Agriculture goal, one of 1 <br />Development Commission's stated objectives was to ". encourage <br />determine the financial viability of farming in Orange County. The study <br />on ways to improve the financial position of farmers and should inclua <br />limited to: low interest debt financing, tax options, local subsidies, and pla <br />related to development rights. A comprehensive survey of local agricult <br />should be part of the study. " <br />In addition to adoption of the Economic Development Strategic Plan, <br />County Commissioners adopted a Farmland Preservation Goal for fiscal <br />which stated: "Conduct survey of the farm community. Incorporate n <br />cooperative ARAB/EDC effort to address strategies to preserve econon <br />Orange County agriculture." <br />The 1998 Agricultural Survey, Keeping Farmers Farming: A Survey of <br />Facing Orange County Farmers, is the product of these initiatives. <br />age County <br />Economic <br />t Balanced <br />produce an <br />of Counry <br />Economic <br />a study to <br />hould focus <br />but not be <br />ping options <br />al business <br />Board of <br />ar 1997-98 <br />lts into the <br />viability of <br />Challenges <br />