Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
60 <br />In 1986, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Farmland Preservation Enabling ACt.3s <br />This important legislation provided counties with the authority to establish farmland <br />preservation programs including voluntary agricultural districts (VADs) and agricultural advisory <br />boards. The Act also created the North Carolina Farmland Preservation Fund, which allowed <br />counties to develop purchase of agricultural conservation easements programs and created a <br />matching mechanism for distribution of Farmland Preservation Trust Fund monies.36 Orange <br />County was one of the first counties in North Carolina to adopt a Voluntary Farmland <br />Preservation Plan Ordinance. The 1992 ordinance established the VAD program and created <br />the Agricultural District Advisory Board (later renamed the Agricultural Preservation Board). <br />The County purchased its first agricultural conservation easement in 2001 using matching grant <br />funds. <br />In 2005 the General Assembly amended the program with an expanded <br />focus that included a strong agricultural economic development <br />component. Renamed the Agricultural Development and Farmland <br />Preservation Enabling Act and the Agricultural Development and <br />Farmland Trust Fund, the revised trust fund supports agricultural <br />development projects such as business planning and incubator <br />programs as well as agricultural easements and other traditional <br />farmland preservation programs. <br />To be eligible for Trust Fund monies, counties must have an adopted a countywide farmland <br />protection plan in place.37 In addition, to be consistent with the state model the plan must <br />contain seven key sections. These include: <br />• A statement of the need for action; <br />• A summary of the County's authority to adopt the plan; <br />• An overview of the county's agricultural activity, past and present; <br />• A outline of challenges for the local agricultural community; <br />• A statement of opportunities for enhancing local agriculture, including programs in place <br />and potential new programs for the future; <br />• A set of action steps to ensure a more viable agricultural community for the future; and <br />• A schedule to implement the action steps.38 <br />A countywide farmland protection plan may be prepared with the assistance of an agricultural <br />advisory board. The Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board will take the lead role in <br />writing and administering this plan, working closely with the Soil and Water Conservation <br />District Board the Cooperative Extension Advisory Council, and reporting to the Board of County <br />Commissioners on its progress. <br />ss NCGS §106-735 et seq. <br />~ Funding was not provided until 1998, when the legislature appropriated $250,000 for acquisition of <br />agricultural conservation easements. <br />37 NCGS §106-744 (c)(1). <br />~ NCGS §106-744(e)(1-5). <br />Draft 11/09/2009 Authority of County Action 49 <br />