Minutes 04-08-2025-Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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35 Commissioner Carter said the food share programs sound intriguing. She said the land conversion figures are concerning. She asked if the Board is being asked to approve the plan. Jane Saiers said that they hope they can come back at a future meeting to get the plan approved. Commissioner Fowler said the report is very helpful. She said it will be helpful as they consider the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. She asked if there can be specificity in conservation easements to prevent non-agricultural uses. Jane Saiers said they are working with the county on an easement, and they are tailoring it to very specific requirements that they want for the future of their farm. David Stancil said there are basic components to a conservation easement and generally, anything that is agreeable to both parties if it does not violate law. Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if conservation easements allow for public access. David Stancil said no unless it is allowed in the easement. He said there could be some, but most do not. Jane Saiers said that the plan is talking more about working land easements and keeping land in agriculture. Vice-Chair Hamilton asked what agricultural products are profitable. Jane Saiers said they do not know that information. Mike Ortosky said it varies. He said the incubator farm he referenced they are using high value crops and direct sales. He said there is a limited market for that. He said farmers who are farming at scale in a known market likely have reduced debt. He said that farming in the middle was often tobacco, but it has changed and that has been diversified. He said there are two scales that seem to be the two models. Commissioner McKee described his experiences with growing different products. He said farmers have to find their niche and protect it. Vice-Chair Hamilton asked how many farmers are selling outside of Orange County. Mike Ortosky said it depends on what they are selling. He said farmers markets usually have a radius, so some Orange County farmers could be at markets in other counties. He said it is more of a regional look. Vice-Chair Hamilton said this plan would be asking the county to invest in farmers. She said she wanted to get an understanding of how the farming economy works. She said they want to have the capacity locally to provide food. She wondered how much land is needed to provide food security in the county. Commissioner McKee said the majority of land in Orange County is owned by farmers. He said without being able to sustain their lifestyle, the land will be sold. Mike Ortosky said there is a huge demand for local products. He said the key is connecting the high demand market with enough farmers through an infrastructure, to meet the demand. He said that they are working with Duke University to help build infrastructure to connect the market to the producers. Jane Saiers said having a food shed is not a nice-to-have, but is important to have. Commissioner Greene said the experience during the pandemic seeing food disappearing from the grocery stores showed the importance of local and sustainable farming. She asked about the TRICOG project with the three councils of governments that have been working together on regional issues. Mike Ortosky said he is on the advisory committee. He said it was a planning grant from the department of Economic Development. He said there is a lot of data around the 17 counties, and the next level is implementation dollars. He said that the environment is different now, but the report is available, and the next level is implementation funding. Chair Bedford said the experience of the transfer tax referendum showed that it would not pass again. She said investing in agriculture is important, but she would not want to tie commissioners' hands by dedicating certain revenues to agriculture. She said she had concerns