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~i <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />ERCD Advisory Boards and Staff Revisions to NCSE -Attachment # 4 <br />6. 4.1.2 <br />ORANGE COUNTY'S AGRICULTURAL NEEDS <br />The introductory section of this chapter identified three components <br />vital to the long-term survival of agriculture in Orange County: 1) <br />keeping productive soils in operation; 2) making farming more <br />profitable; and 3) producing new farmers. The preceding section <br />provided a sample of some of the more popular programs and <br />initiatives already available, or in progress. Since farmers typically <br />prefer voluntary and incentive-based options to regulatory mandates, <br />the role for Orange County government in the future of local <br />agriculture is still being determined. Future efforts to support <br />agriculture and forestry should consider the following needs. <br />1. Productive soils need to be conserved and protected from <br />development. <br />Agricultural priority areas should be identified, and areas of <br />contiguous prime and active agricultural and forestlands <br />should be protected as "communities." The conservation of <br />"critical mass" bolsters the likelihood of success for farm- <br />oriented communities and enhances the opportunities for <br />inter-farm collaborative marketing. <br />^ The County needs to continue, and improve existing programs <br />to preserve farmland .through voluntary means such as <br />conservation easements and voluntary agricultural districts. <br />^ The County should explore ways to make farmland available <br />and affordable for new farmers (young and new to farming.) <br />2. Additional tax benefits at the County and State level may be needed <br />to help keep farming viable. Some of these benefits may require <br />pursuing special legislation, or statewide legislation. <br />^ The County should pursue a farmer-to-farmer transfer <br />program that would exempt the -'ter- buver from the rollback <br />if the property stays in farm use. <br />^ The County should explore property tax deductions on farm <br />buildings and machinery. <br />^ The County should pursue property tax deductions on land in <br />donated easements and on land enrolled in voluntary <br />agricultural districts. <br />^ Farmers should also be encouraged to seek out special <br />programs that provide innovative financial and technical <br />assistance for farm buildings such as the Orange County Local <br />Landmark Program' or the National Trust's Barn Again! <br />Program. The County may also wish to follow New York's <br />example and pursue a state rehabilitation tax benefit for <br />barns. <br />' This program provides a potential property tax deferral for historic structures, including <br />houses and farm structures. <br />©ra~.~Cott~y Ca-vxpreher-%iyei~~aw Public Hearing Qraft 5-6-08 Page 6-20 <br />