APB agenda 122000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ik Focus Areas A) Local Retail Opportunities — Farmer's Markets, restaurants, groceries, on- farm and roadside sales. Possible speakers: Bill Jester (NCCE), Bob and /or Muffin Nutter, Ken Dawson, Alex Hitt or Karl Shaeffer, Beverly Blythe B) Community Supported Agriculture C) Added Income Sources — renting garden plots, custom work, agri - tourism and farm tours D) Selling to local institutions 2) Series of Farm Walkabouts to folks that have adopted some of the practices above or who have diversified their operations. Possibilities include: Dwight Compton, Howard McAdams, Maple View, Jeff Sykes, Others? 3) Possible Estate Planning for Farm Families Seminar — Will include information on means to pass on land and farm assets to family members and preserving farms for the future. Focus again on options such as conservation easements, incentives of voluntary agricultural districts, using a hypothetical farm to show tax incentives (advantages), general tax changes for 2001 and what the outlook for the short-term future might be as far as agricultural economy. At this point, Dr. Barber opened the discussion to the committee. The following ideas were discussed: - Invite Meg Scott- Phipps to speak.. She could give an overview of what she thinks will happen in agriculture during her administration. Commissioner Barry Jacobs will contact her to see if she would be able to speak. Have 15 minute segments spread throughout the meeting on topics such as: - Voluntary Agriculture Districts /Smart Growth - Golden LEAF (longer presentation when/if we are selected) - Conservation Easements /Conservation Tax Credits - County Obstacles and Solutions (What they need to know when starting a business) - A program such as Green Print that is being done by Triangle J. Establish a focus group of farmers to determine areas in the County where it would be best to preserve open space. - Have a half. -day meeting instead of an all -day meeting. - Program activities need to be something "Down on the Farm Practical ". It's hard to get the farmers to come unless the topics are something very agriculturally oriented. - Have the Agricultural Summit video taped and shown on the People's Channel.