Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
~~ <br />E. Recommended Action Strategies <br />1. Adequate current facilities <br />Adequate facilities are needed for agricultural programming in Orange County, <br />While renovation of an existing facility may fulfill the needs, the Work Group <br />strongly urges the BOCC to embark on a capital improvement plan that includes a <br />new freestanding ag center. Until such facility is available to serve farmers and <br />citizens of Orange County, the Work Group recommends that the BOGC: <br />Address current space needs <br />i. Meet square foot requirements <br />ii. Meet parking requirements <br />iii, Increase agricultural support space <br />2, New Ag Center <br />The evidence examined by the Work Group indicated a pressing need for <br />improved facilities far agricultural programs in the county. Indeed, 80% of survey <br />respondents indicated that a new ag center is justified, with greatest support for 4- <br />H & Youth programs that include indoor and outdoor facilities to teach children how <br />to grow and preserve food as well as teach them about farm animals. In addition, <br />survey respondents noted the need for medium meeting rooms to accommodate <br />30 to 75 people. <br />Shifting federal farm subsidy and conservation programs, diversification of farming <br />activities by long-time Orange County farm families, as well as an increasing <br />number of smaller farms being farmed by 'new' farmers, have and will continue to <br />place large demands on county staff and facilities. The need for state of the art <br />agricultural facilities is critical to the future of farming in Orange County. <br />The Work Group strongly recommends that the BOCC embark on a capital <br />improvement plan that includes a new freestanding Agriculture and Natural <br />Resources Center to allow agriculture in Orange County to not just survive, but to <br />thrive well into the future, Tc more accurately denote the services of an ag center, <br />the building may be considered an 'agriculture & natural resources center'. <br />Capital improvement plan <br />i. Initiate a capital improvement plan line item in FY07 Budget to address a future <br />agricultural center, <br />ii, Consider that a unified agricultural center represents the most efficient use of <br />resources and offers the greatest benefit to county farmers and general public, <br />iii. Conduct feasibility studies for: <br />a. Added value shared-use agricultural processing facility for locally <br />produced meat & vegetable farm products for marketing to local <br />consumers, restaurants, and institutional food services <br />b, Farm business incubator to train & support new farmers <br />Agricultural Center Work Group Report Page 14 <br />