2010-010 DEAPR - NC Dept of Ag & Consumer Services - Breeze Farm

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C. Are other organizations, programs, projects, etc. serving this community need or these community needs? If yes, how is this project differentlwhy is this project necessary? Orange County intends to acquire the conservation easement through its Lands Legacy program, which seeks to protect prime farmland and other highly important natural resource lands. Since Lands Legacy was established in 2000 the County has acquired 13 agricultural conservation easements that protect 1,277 acres of farmland. In all cases matching funds were contributed by outside sources, including the federal FRPP program and the original NC Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (2001). County funds for Lands Legacy and the purchase of conservation easements, however have been depleted and will be severely limited in the future. Nevertheless, Orange County has selected this project as a high priority to complete Phase 2 of the Breeze farm easement project in which the County already invested funds in 2008 for Phase 1. Completing this project is particularly important because of the high regard that Orange County citizens have for Colonel William Breeze. His land conservation and stewardship efforts have been recognized widely in the agricultural community, and his placing a conservation easement on this farm will certainly influence others in the community to consider doing the same thing. The Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) and the Eno River Association also acquire conservation easements in Orange County, but neither organization has purchased agricultural easements here thus far. TLC was granted easement donations by the Nutters of Maple View Farm and by the Earnhardts and Kuenzler families, but each of those farms is located in southern Orange County (Cape Fear basin) which is a priority watershed for TLC. D. Are there sustainability plans for the project? If yes, please describe. If not, please explain why. (250 words or less) When the larger farm passes to Colone! Breeze's children (Wm Breeze Jr. and Ann Breeze Sebesan) both are expected to continue leasing the farm to area farmers. If they should ever sell the farmland (encumbered by the easement) it would very likely be sold to a farmer interested in continuing agricultural activities on prime farmland. Moreover the timberland on the property has been managed since 1956 with assistance and guidance from the district forester and consulting foresters (Bernard & Dryman Forestry), and since 1994 through the Forest Stewardship Program. The proximity to the adjacent NC State agricultural extention and research facility (see enclosed brochure) makes it an especially attractive location. Moreover, the farm is located in an agricultural community with good access to farm markets. It is five miles from downtown Hillsborough (county seat), which has two farmers markets and Weaver Street Market featuring locally-grown food. Orange County is also working jointly with Alamance, Durham and Chatham counties to establish the Piedmont Food and Agricultural Processing Center (awarded an ADFP Trust Fund grant in 2008) in Hillsborough, which would be a tremendous asset to area farmers. Page 12 of 23 Easement Application