| |
Source: NCDA&CS, 7/13/12
The N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund recently awarded more than $2 million to help communities across the state protect farmland and promote agricultural enterprises, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced today.
In total, the trust fund awarded $2,060,191 to support three agricultural plans, seven agricultural development projects and 10 perpetual conservation easements. More than 900 acres of farmland will be protected by these grants, and the total economic impact of all grants is estimated at more than $11.6 million across 40 counties.
Below is a list, by county, of applicants that received grants:
· The Alleghany County Soil and Water Conservation District received $15,000 to assist with the development and adoption of a county Farmland Protection Plan.
· Alamance County received a grant of $100,000 toward the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 27 acres of Dr. Jeff Wilkins’ crop and livestock farm in Burlington. Last year, the trust fund assisted with the purchase of 36 acres, bringing the total perpetual conservation easement on the Wilkins Farm to 63 acres.
· The North American Land Trust was awarded a grant of $99,687 toward the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 25 acres of land on the historic Cates Farm in Alamance County. The farm is owned by Marsha Altmeyer Ritchie of Mebane.
· The New River Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded a grant of $239,700 to assist with the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 57.7 acres of farmland in Ashe County owned by Jack Krider in Todd.
· The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservatory received $55,330 toward the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 57 acres of farmland in Buncombe County owned by William Jeffers, a beginning farmer in Leicester.
· The Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $200,000 to assist with the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 233 acres of farmland owned by Lynn Brown in Leicester. Previously a dairy, the farm has been converted to beef production and specialty crops.
· The Cabarrus County Soil and Water Conservation District received $89,600 towards the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 35.4 acres of a grain and forestry operation owned by Dan Barrier in Mount Pleasant.
· The Triangle Land Conservancy was awarded $270,000 to help with the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 195 acres of a Chatham County organic dairy farm owned by J. Neill Lindley in Snow Camp.
· The Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Service received $25,000 to assist with a Cumberland County Farmers Market feasibility study.
· The Haywood County Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $285,781 to assist with the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 144 acres of a beef and row crop farm owned by James Ferguson in Clyde.
· Henderson County received $64,000 to help establish the “Henderson County Farm Fresh” agricultural marketing program.
· The Macon County Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $7,225 to pay for educational meetings and outreach for the Voluntary Agricultural District and to support efforts to create an Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District program.
· The Sandhills Land Trust was awarded $256,655 to help with the purchase of 165 acres of Scotland County crop and forest land owned by G. B. “Brownie” Gainey in Laurel Hill. The grant completes the third and final phase of easement purchases on the Gainey Farm. In total, 408 acres will be protected by perpetual conservation easements.
· The LandTrust for Central North Carolina received $54,713 to assist with the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 80 acres of a Stanly County beef cattle operation owned by Earl Almond in Albemarle.
· The Washington County Cooperative Extension Service received $4,000 to help pay for educational meetings and other outreach to landowners on behalf of the county’s Voluntary Agricultural District.
The trust fund also awarded grants to the following organizations for projects of regional impact:
· The Bladen County Soil and Water Conservation District received $45,500 to help purchase conservation equipment, including no-till grain drills and a weed wiper, to supplement an existing equipment rental program. The equipment will be housed in Bladen County but will be available to farmers in Columbus, Robeson, Cumberland and Sampson counties.
· The N.C. Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation received a grant of $100,000 to assist with creating a 30-year landowner agreement program for the preservation of working farms and forests under military training routes in the following counties: Beaufort, Bertie, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Harnett, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Onslow, Pamlico, Sampson and Wake.
· North Carolina’s Eastern Region received $12,000 to assist with an agricultural mapping and analysis project for the upcoming PlanIT East Envision-2050 Conference in Trenton, N.C., in October. The project will focus on Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender and Wayne counties.
· Operation Spring Plant was awarded a grant of $36,000 for equipment to increase capacity for processing bio-fuels. The project will involve farmers from Granville, Halifax, Johnston, Orange and Wayne counties.
· Vance County was awarded $100,000 for the construction of the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. The project will provide a new sales venue for farmers from Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties.
The trust fund’s purpose is to support projects that encourage the preservation of qualifying agricultural, horticultural and forest lands while fostering the growth, development and sustainability of family farms. For more information, go to www.ncadfp.org.
|
