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A recent study by the American <br />Farmland Trust indicated that <br />Orange County possesses high <br />quality farmland and is also <br />experiencing high development <br />(Fig.1). <br />Based on Farm Services Agency <br />records in 1996 and 2Q()4, 11,264 <br />acres of cropland were removed <br />from Farm Services Agency <br />programs in Orange County. <br />During the past 2Q years, Orange <br />County has made great strides to <br />protect the rural buffer, yet at the <br />same time the county 'lost' 43% of <br />its beef cows, 69% of its dairy cows, <br />and 63% of its pigs, <br />rARMfNG ON T1iL- EDGL- <br />Sprawling Development Threotens <br />America's Best Farmland <br />Nonh Carolina <br />v AYM <br />® ~~ <br />Loeentls <br />® HphOUaliry famYantld Hlph pevelvpmenl <br />F4git0ualiM Fam~lvntl6 tax Oevrlopmenl <br />Fetleml6lntlun lands <br />UNan Nevs <br />ONer tends <br />~r~1~F <br />I ~ r~w~ <br />v.r., <br />Figure 1.. Development and High Quality Farmland <br />The Work Group welcomed the BOCC charge and guidelines, To fulfill the charge <br />provided by the BOCC, members reviewed current ag data, discussed possible uses of <br />an ag center, established short and long term subcommittees, conducted a short term <br />needs survey and a long term survey, and conducted field trips to Wake and Johnston <br />County Ag Centers, Spence's Community Educational Farm in Chapel Hill, and the Blue <br />Ridge Food Ventures processing center near Asheville, <br />There are a few differences between the current Work Group and the previous <br />Livestock/Horticulture and Rural Education Center (LHREC), Most notable is that the <br />issue of the livestock market and scales is no longer an item that Orange County farmers <br />feel is required. While the issue of local produced and raised farm products was not a <br />significant issue raised in the documents of the LHREC, the current Work Group noted <br />that current available market demand for local farm products is a major opportunity for <br />local farmers. A summary of the LHREC documents is available in Appendix 1. <br />There are several definite opportunities for agriculture in Orange County, The Work <br />Group agreed that direct marketing and niche marketing offer definite promise to retain <br />and possible increase economically viable ag enterprises. Opportunities for certified <br />organic dairy products have recently become apparent and local farmers markets are <br />growing fast. <br />___ <br />Agricultural Center Work Group Report Page 9 <br />