Agenda - 04-17-2012 - 5f - Laserfiche WebLink

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Public Benefits of Agricultural Districts In addition to providing direct benefits to landowners, Voluntary Agricultural Districts offer the following advantages for the general public: • Providing a voluntary way to support the conservation of rural communities • Conserving rural lands without adding significant ex- penses to local government or impacting the tax base • Supporting each community's rural heritage and economy, and providing local jobs and tax income • Maintaining scenic views and tourism -based econom- ic activity • Providing fresh food, flowers, and other local farm products for residents and visitors • Supporting clean air and water • Providing wildlife habitat • Maintaining lower levels of traffic and noise • Minimizing the infrastructure burden on County and municipal government Voluntary Agricultural Districts are one way for farmers to preserve their land, and can provide a stepping stone to more permanent means of limiting development such as conservation easements. For additional information on other farmland protection tools see the Orange County Agricultural Development and Farmland Protection Plan. FOR MORE INFORMATION Orange County Department of Environment, • Agriculture, Parks & Recreation www.co.oranae.nc.us /deapr /nat cul resources asp Voluntary Agricultural Districts - VADs & EVADs David Stancil, Director PO Box 8181 -306 Revere Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 245 -2510 dstancil(oko. orange. nc. us Gail Hughes, Soil Conservationist Orange Soil and Water Conservation District (919) 245 -2750 ghughes(oaco. orange. nc us Agricultural Conservation Easements Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Manager (919) 245 -2514 rshaw(ako. orange. n c. us VAD and EVAD applications for eligible farms are reviewed by the Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) for recommendation to the Board of County Commis- sioners (BOCC). The APB consists of seven at large members plus one member from each of the seven agricultural districts. Members are appointed by the BOCC to advise Orange County government on a broad range of agricultural topics. ORANGE COUNTY VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT PROGRAM 1 1 t M i Agriculture is North Carolina's number one industry, worth more than $70 billion annually. In recent years, however, North Carolina has led the nation in loss of farms. Orange County has followed the national trend with a shift toward smaller farms. The number of individual farms is increasing but the amount of acre- age under cultivation is decreasing. Orange County is losing active farmland. Orange County recognizes that agriculture is a vital part of its economy and that farmland provides the rural character that makes this part of our community such an attractive place to live and visit. —�- The Voluntary Agricultural District Program (VADs and EVADs) provides a way for farmers to preserve their land voluntarily and protect active farmland from non -farm development. a)