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53 <br />1 easements, and basic principles of estate planning with conservation options. Farmers <br />2 should be encouraged to continue to be model environmental stewards and promote good <br />3 forest stewardship management practices using state and federal programs that provide <br />4 financial assistance. It is particularly important for the County to maintain its experienced <br />5 agricultural and forestry support staff for these agricultural agencies. The staff provides the <br />6 education and outreach that enables farmers to participate in these programs as well as <br />7 general land use planning for agriculture and land conservation. <br />8 <br />9 10. Develop and Promote a Land Link System. <br />10 "Land -link" programs are another recent initiative in North Carolina and throughout the <br />11 country that can help preserve family farms. Land Link programs take the mentoring idea a <br />12 step further. Similar to an apprenticeship, the idea is to partner young prospective farmers <br />13 with older farmers, who will provide "hands on" training. These programs have been <br />14 successful in other urbanizing areas of the country and may provide a way to keep some <br />15 local farms in operation for another generation. North Carolina Farm Transition Network <br />16 (NCFTN), located in Hillsborough, provides services to farmers wishing to plan for the future <br />17 such as estate planning and developing a "land link." As farmers continue to age, land links <br />18 may become an invaluable way to keep active farms going. The county must take on a <br />19 more pro - active approach to producing the next generation of farmers and providing them <br />20 with the resources —land, equipment, and business sense to get established. <br />21 <br />22 11. Educate the non - farming public on the environmental protection benefits of farmland <br />23 protection and the detriments of its conversion. <br />24 Develop a public education campaign to tie consumer support of local agriculture with open - <br />25 space, clean water and air benefits, and enhanced wildlife habitat working farm and <br />26 forestland provides. Note the benefits of keeping land in agriculture, horticulture, and <br />27 forestry to protecting critical drinking water sources, and fresh food. <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 Strengthen Farm Viability and the Agricultural Economy by Making Agriculture <br />31 More Profitable <br />32 1. Create an Agricultural Economic Development Position. <br />33 ACCOMPLISHED! In 2005 Orange County hired an Agricultural Economic Development <br />34 position for the county to carry forward the economic initiatives necessary for farm viability. <br />35 Duties of this position include: <br />36 a. Determining priorities, developing strategies, and achieving benchmarks for economic <br />37 development efforts <br />38 b. Identifying and seeking additional funds for economic and business development for <br />39 county initiatives and individual producers through grant writing <br />40 c. Communicating and meeting on a regular basis with stakeholders in agricultural <br />41 economic development process <br />42 d. Developing marketing initiatives for local agriculture. <br />43 The Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator has already spearheaded numerous <br />44 ventures. The two most notable projects are the development of a regional value -added <br />45 shared -use food processing center (in the works), and the establishment of a new farm <br />46 enterprise incubator program that will be part of a larger agricultural facility in conjunction <br />47 with North Carolina State University and Cooperative Extension Service (PLANT). <br />48 <br />Draft 1012812003 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 38 <br />