Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
33 <br /> FINAL DRAFT-5-27-26 <br /> Alliance, which provided a forum for collaboration to develop joint projects <br /> or partnerships. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Increase in annual number of Funding required <br /> collaborative agricultural working <br /> lands easements completed <br /> • Orange County Conservation <br /> Alliance reactivated <br /> Recommendation 4: Use the VAD/EVAD (Voluntary Agricultural <br /> District/Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District) program as a steppingstone to <br /> permanent Lands Legacy Program conservation easements. <br /> Farmers/landowners enrolled in the VAD/EVAD program have made a <br /> voluntary, nonbinding commitment to keep their land in farming and out of <br /> development for a period of at least 10 years. Respondents to a 2022 Orange <br /> County VAD/EVAD Farmer and Landowner Survey expressed interest in <br /> permanent protection of their land through a conservation easement, but to <br /> date, few VAD/EVAD farmers/landowners have conservation easements in <br /> place. Having demonstrated commitment to protecting their farmland, <br /> VAD/EVAD farmers are particularly good candidates for easement-related <br /> outreach and education. Priority Actions 4a and 4b are intended to educate <br /> County farmers/landowners about conservation options and to reward and <br /> incentivize VAD/EVAD farmers/landowners seeking to learn about and/or pursue <br /> permanent conservation easements. <br /> • Priority Action 4a: Intensify VAD/EVAD recruiting efforts through direct mail, <br /> County website, direct outreach, and Agricultural Preservation Board <br /> member engagement. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Increase in annual number of County staff including new proposed <br /> VAD/EVAD enrollees Ag Viability and Farmland <br /> • Increase in VAD/EVAD acreage Stewardship position <br /> annual <br /> • Priority Action 4b: Offer conservation easement workshops to VAD/EVAD <br /> farmers. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Conservation easement workshop Funding required <br /> held annually <br /> • Number of VAD/EVAD farmer- <br /> participants in workshop <br /> 31 <br />