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13 <br /> Chair Bedford asked if the survey data was the starting point, and if the survey would be <br /> readministered every two years. <br /> Kelly Guadalupe said yes that they would use the same survey. <br /> Slide #7 <br /> Environmental Protection and Climate Action <br /> Performance Measures <br /> 6. Establish baseline and increase the <br /> number of sustainable farming practices <br /> farmers implement after participating in <br /> sustainable farming programs, outreach, or <br /> education each year. <br /> 7. Permanently protect 300 additional acres <br /> of farmland, priority natural areas, riparian <br /> buffer lands, floodplains, and wildlife habitat <br /> over the next 5 years. <br /> ,LII:I II k I I <br /> Commissioner McKee asked what incentives will be provided because the farming <br /> community is reluctant to change practices that have proven to be successful. He said he wants <br /> to make sure that they do not chase good ideas that do not pan out for people that are depending <br /> on this as a source of income. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said that the details are going to have to come from the staff level <br /> with Cooperative Extension. She said then it will have to come back to the Board, and they will <br /> review what is working. She said that it will have to be tracked. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that he is worried because there must be something that <br /> entices the farmers, and he is not seeing that. He said he does not know how to track something <br /> that has not happened. He said that he is trying to get a definition on what "sustainable" means. <br /> He said if he could not see a return on investment, he would not do it. He said there needs to be <br /> a measurable incentive. He said he has no objections to the strategies he just wants to make sure <br /> there is a return on investment to the people involved and the county as a whole. <br /> Commissioner Greene said there are many ways to do farming in Orange County, and <br /> she hopes that this plan can go along with the Climate Action Plan and there are multiple <br /> meanings around return on investment, and not all are about dollars. She said that she would like <br /> to see an established baseline. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that it would be $8 million to set aside farmland, and it will be <br /> significant. <br /> Chair Bedford said they already have $4 million set aside, so that is a start. <br />