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30 <br /> DRAFT/March 28,2025 <br /> Priority Action 5d provides a framework for County-facilitated education and <br /> assistance customized to individual farmers' goals and plans. Farmers' <br /> willingness to sell their land varies depending on factors such as financial need <br /> and personal values. Each Orange County farm/farmer is unique with respect to <br /> these factors. Some farmers are unwilling to sell their land for development at <br /> any price. For others, financial considerations can outweigh the desire to keep <br /> their land in farming---particularly in the context of the high land prices in the <br /> County. An understanding of where each farm in the County stands with <br /> respect to stewardship goals and transition planning will help the County to <br /> customize approaches to conserving farmland and to keeping it actively <br /> farmed. <br /> • Priority Action 5a: Fund complimentary transition planning consulting to <br /> VAD/EVAD landowners and farmer-landowners holding Lands Legacy <br /> Program conservation easements. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Number of farmers/landowners Funding required <br /> taking advantage of transition <br /> planning consulting <br /> • Number of farmers/landowners <br /> with transition plans (a) initiated; <br /> b completed <br /> • Priority Action 5b: Convene an annual Transition Planning/Estate Planning <br /> summit for County farmer-landowners. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Transition Planning/Estate Planning Funding required <br /> summit convened annually <br /> • Annual increase in number of <br /> farmers/landowners with transition <br /> plans (a) initiated (b) completed <br /> • Priority Action 5c: Educate owners of forestland about the benefits to the <br /> environment and the climate of conserving forestland and the financial <br /> benefits of managed forestland. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Annual increase in number of 0 County staff including new <br /> farmers/landowners with forest proposed Ag Viability and <br /> management plans Farmland Stewardship position <br /> • Annual increase in number of 9 Agricultural Preservation Board <br /> farmers in forestry PUV members <br /> • Annual increase in number of Orange County Extension agents <br /> acres of forestland permanently <br /> conserved <br /> 28 <br />