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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: April 8, 2025 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 3 <br /> SUBJECT: Orange County Draft Agricultural Viability and Farmland Stewardship Plan <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, <br /> Parks and Recreation <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Draft Agricultural Viability and Farmland Peter Sandbeck, 919-245-2517 <br /> Stewardship Plan David Stancil, 919-245-2510 <br /> PowerPoint Presentation <br /> PURPOSE: To receive a presentation summarizing the draft Orange County Agricultural Viability <br /> and Farmland Stewardship Plan. <br /> BACKGROUND: The goal of Promoting Sustainable Agriculture is included in the Orange County <br /> Strategic Plan 2025-2029 as a primary means of achieving one of the County's top Strategic <br /> Priorities of Environmental Protection and Climate Action. The Strategic Plan states that the <br /> County will "incentivize and promote sustainable agriculture and local food systems development <br /> through supportive policy, funding, farmland protection, and educational outreach." To support <br /> the County in these efforts, the Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board's Farmland <br /> Protection Subcommittee has prepared a draft Agricultural Viability and Farmland Stewardship <br /> Plan. The Plan has been reviewed and endorsed by the Agricultural Preservation Board and <br /> forwarded to the BOCC for consideration. <br /> The draft Plan describes recent trends in agriculture and farmland loss, challenges to and <br /> opportunities for continued farming, vision and goals for agriculture, and recommendations for <br /> maintaining farmland and supporting a viable farming community in Orange County. The Plan <br /> meets content guidelines outlined in the North Carolina General Statutes (§ 106-744) for <br /> preferential eligibility for NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund <br /> monies supporting agricultural viability and conservation projects. Counties must have adopted a <br /> countywide farmland protection plan to be eligible for preference for Trust Fund monies. <br /> This draft Plan updates the County's Agricultural Development and Farmland Protection Plan <br /> adopted in 2009. It is intended to be a dynamic Plan that is updated and reissued biennially to <br /> address the needs and challenges associated with a rapidly evolving agricultural landscape. <br /> Actions recommended in the Plan are proposed to be implemented over the next five (5) years <br /> from 2025 to 2029 in keeping with the timeframe of the County's Strategic Plan. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with receiving this presentation. <br /> ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports: <br /> • GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION <br />