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8 <br /> FINAL DRAFT-5-27-26 <br /> easements have been made possible by steady levels of county funding over <br /> the years. However, in the current environment, Orange County could lose that <br /> entire amount of farmland in just a single year to development. Sadly, despite all <br /> our current efforts, we are rapidly losing ground. Once farmland is developed, it <br /> can never again be used to produce food. <br /> Farmers in Orange County have embraced our Voluntary Agricultural District <br /> (VAD) program which has achieved considerable success by enrolling 162 <br /> farms, totaling 17,833 acres, or about 33% of the county's active farmland. These <br /> farm owners have committed to continuing to farm rather than develop their <br /> land. However, out of this total, over 15,000 acres are enrolled in voluntary <br /> conservation agreements with the county, meaning these owners can withdraw <br /> any time and sell their land for development. <br /> We are fortunate to see an increase in younger start-up farm operators, drawn <br /> to the area by our many vibrant farmers' markets and consumers who strongly <br /> support locally grown foods. Some of these new farmers have leased farmland <br /> at the Breeze Farm Incubator, operated by our Orange County Extension staff <br /> and NCSU. These newcomers aspire to farm ownership but are finding it <br /> increasingly difficult to compete with developers willing to pay top dollar for our <br /> best farmland. <br /> Orange County can choose to take additional steps to support farmland <br /> retention and agricultural viability. Nearby counties, including Wake and <br /> Chatham, have already implemented robust new farmland preservation <br /> programs in response to similar challenges. Our plan provides a thoughtful and <br /> measured vision to guide us as we work together with our Board of County <br /> Commissioners to mount a strong response to these challenges. <br /> The timing is fortuitous. Planning Department staff are ready to use this new plan <br /> to inform and guide their current efforts to update the County's Land Use Plan, <br /> as they work to craft their recommendations for enhancing agriculture and <br /> preserving farmland. The public engagement sessions held in 2024 by the <br /> Planning Department, as part of the current Land Use Plan update process, <br /> revealed that a significant majority of participants voiced strong support for <br /> policies that promote sustainable agriculture, farmland preservation and natural <br /> heritage. <br /> The goals of our plan are consistent with the Board of County Commissioner's <br /> goals as articulated in The Orange County Strategic Plan 2025-2029 which <br /> 6 <br />