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49 trust fund until 1998, when the General Assembly earmarked $250,000 for a pilot farmland preservation program. The Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services, which FPEA assigned to administer the trust fund, contracted with the Conservation Trust for North Carolina (a private, not - for - profit, public interest organization) to manage the pilot program. CTNC again administered the program in 1999, when $500,006'was allocated to the trust fund. In the first two years of the operational grant program, twelve grants were awarded that protected parts of twelve farms and 1,981 acres (six grants for a portion of the appraised value for the purchase of non - agricultural development rights, or for "bargain sales" and partial donations of future development rights; and six grants covered the transactional costs for donated agricultural conservation easements). The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has contracted CTNC to help administer the farmland preservation grant program for the 2000 -01 fiscal year, and $1,425,000 in appropriated state funds will be distributed in grants to counties and other qualified land conservation organizations. A county may seek a grant from the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to acquire agricultural conservation easements from landowners within VADs. The FPEA defines `agricultural conservation easement' as agreement by the landowner to not use his or her land for residential, commercial, or industrial development. Furthermore, the easement must be of perpetual duration, although the County may agree to reconvey the easement to the landowner after 20 years from the date of purchase, if the landowner can demonstrate that commercial agriculture is no longer practicable on the land. The Future of Voluntary Agricultural Districts — What You Can Do As interest in farmland preservation increases, annual funding for the North Carolina Farmland Preservation Trust Fund may be given more consideration. Agricultural Districts will receive more attention from local governments looking for an accepted, voluntary program. If you're a farmer, talk to your County Soil and Water Conservation District Conservationist, Cooperative Extension Service agent, or Planning Department about starting a VAD program. If your County already has a Voluntary Agricultural District program, find out how you can promote the program. Agricultural Advisory Board members themselves can be the best promoters of a voluntary agricultural district program. A respected local farmer serving on the Board can have a tremendous influence in convincing other farmers to enroll. Since passage of the FPEA in 1986, participation in agricultural districts programs has been, low. Although the program is strictly voluntary, farmland preservation advocates generally agree that the incentives provided have not been attractive enough to encourage new enrollment. The Conservation Trust for North Carolina, along with other land trusts, preservation advocates, and government officials are working on ways to strengthen the VAD program to increase enrollment and make it an attractive option for farmers. These could include additional tax breaks for farmers enrolled as voluntary agricultural districts.