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53 <br />1 Attract and Train New Farmers and New Farming Operations <br />2 1. Orange County must adopt a more pro-active approach toward attracting new farmers and <br />3 new farm operations to this region, by advertising for complementary operations, and even <br />4 offering incentives. <br />5 a. Develop an economic development model to attract complementary agricultural <br />6 operations or support operations to the region. <br />7 <br />8 2. Farmers and farm support staff must work together to teach the next generation about <br />9 farming, support apprentice options, and promote the pursuit of farming as an occupation. <br />10 a. The County should work with the school districts to expand existing training programs <br />11 in high schools and work in partnership with local community colleges and the state <br />12 university system to encourage agricultural students to stay in North Carolina and <br />13 work on local farms. <br />14 b. The County should partner with the local school system's community service program <br />15 to provide non-farm students with an entree into the farming community, to provide <br />16 them with the land and business skills to consider farming as a career. <br />17 c. Develop apprenticeship programs, and or mentor programs to partner potential <br />18 farmers with successful farmers. <br />19 d. Continue existing programs for young people such as the Junior Livestock Show, <br />20 Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H. <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 Foster Greater Recognition and Public Support for Agriculture <br />24 1. Foster Greater Appreciation for Agriculture Among Government Officials and Non-farm <br />25 Residents through Education and Outreach Efforts. <br />26 a. Continue educating County and municipal officials and planning board members on <br />27 farming issues and basics of agricultural law, as well as "smart growth" strategies that <br />28 concentrate growth near existing centers and infrastructure. <br />29 b. Continue efforts to keep members of the agricultural community involved in local <br />30 government and planning. <br />31 c. Plan a Cost of Community Services (COGS) study to demonstrate the public fiscal <br />32 advantages of land use planning for agricultural viability. In 2006, the AFT conducted <br />33 a COGS for Orange County, and determined that on'average, for every $1 in revenue <br />34 raised by residential development, the County must spend $1.24 on services. For <br />35 each dollar of revenue raised by farm, forest, or open space, Orange County only <br />36 spends $0.72 cents on services. Based on this study, which is consistent with <br />37 nationwide trends, most residential development does not pay for itself; the exception <br />38 is typically very high-end housing or housing served by public water and sewer <br />39 systems. Likewise, in other COGS studies, including two conducted by North Carolina <br />40 State University for Chatham County (1998) and Wake County (2001), farmland has <br />41 been shown to require significantly less in public service (fire protection, water and <br />42 sewer, police, schools, etc) expenditures than it contributes in tax revenue, even at <br />43 the lower differential assessment rate afforded under the present-use value taxation <br />44 system. The results of this study should be publicized to further generate protection <br />45 of the agricultural economy as sound fiscal policy. <br />46 d. The Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator should cultivate local and state <br />47 media coverage of the benefits of agriculture to the well-being of the county, and <br />Draft 11!09/2009 Action Steps to Ensure a Viable Agricultural Community 42 <br />