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Source: NCDA&CS, 8/1/13
The Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund recently awarded more than $1.9 million to help communities across the state protect farmland and promote agricultural enterprises, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced today.
“The trust fund was able to grant 22 projects funding this year, including 11 projects that were funded from the state’s legal settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority,” Troxler said. “The conservation easements, agricultural projects and plans will help to solidify agriculture and agribusiness as North Carolina’s top industry.”
Below is a list, by county, of applicants that received grants:
Bertie:
· Bertie County and Bertie County Cooperative Extension were awarded $3,500 to help pay for educational meetings and other outreach to landowners on behalf of the county’s Voluntary Agricultural District.
Buncombe:
· The Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District received $110,000 to assist with the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 78 acres of a livestock and crop farm owned by Gary Hutchins of Leicester.
· The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy was awarded $75,000 toward the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 25 acres of a livestock and crop farm owned by Will Jeffers of Leicester.
· The Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District was granted $225,000 to assist with the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 167 acres of farm and forestland owned by Janet Peterson of Fletcher.
Cabarrus:
· The Cabarrus County Soil and Water Conservation District received $228,112.50 to assist with the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 182 acres of a livestock and poultry farm owned by Thomas E. Porter Jr. of Concord.
Chatham:
· The Chatham County Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $220,500 toward the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 220 acres of a livestock and poultry farm owned by Mike Lindley of Snow Camp.
Columbus:
· The Columbus County Soil and Water Conservation District was granted $19,000 toward the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 15 acres of cropland in Chadbourn owned by Mary Yates of Ocean Isle Beach.
Forsyth:
· Forsyth County and Forsyth County Cooperative Extension received $14,000 to aid the development and adoption of a farmland protection plan.
Haywood:
· The Haywood County Economic Development Commission was awarded $15,000 toward expanding the brand recognition of “Buy Haywood” products through increased access to marketing materials and working directly with farmers to better market locally grown products.
· The Haywood County Soil and Water Conservation District was granted $32,694 toward the purchase of a 30-year term conservation easement on 28 acres of a livestock and crop farm owned by Matthew Swanger of Clyde.
Hyde:
· The Hyde County Soil and Water Conservation District received $100,930 to assist with the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 77 acres of cropland owned by J.W. Spencer of Swan Quarter.
Jackson:
· The Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $198,000 toward the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 121 acres of farm and forestland in Whittier owned by Billy Gibson of Sylva.
Macon:
· The Macon County Soil and Water Conservation District was granted $50,000 toward the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 150 acres of a livestock and crop farm owned by Jim and Sue Waldroop of Franklin.
Madison:
· The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy received $275,000 to assist with the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 355 acres of farm and forestland owned by Betty Reeves of Leicester.
Mitchell:
· Mitchell County was awarded $60,326 toward funding site preparation for a school farm on the campus of Mitchell County High School in Bakersville.
Pender:
· The Pender County Soil and Water Conservation District was granted $3,500 to help pay for educational meetings and other outreach to landowners on behalf of the county’s Voluntary Agricultural District.
Transylvania:
· Carolina Mountain Conservancy received $69,000 to assist with the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 21 acres of a livestock farm owned by Dale and Janet Robertson of Brevard.
Warren:
· Warren County was awarded $50,000 toward refurbishing a textile mill for a produce processing and distribution facility, the Center for Ag & Value-added Enterprise, that will serve small and mid-sized farmers.
Watauga:
· Blue Ridge Conservancy was granted $60,000 toward the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 282 acres of a livestock farm and forestland owned by Ray and Virginia Ward of Sugar Grove.
Yadkin:
· Piedmont Land Conservancy received $14,000 to aid the development and adoption of a farmland protection plan.
The trust fund also awarded grants to the following organizations for projects of re gional impact:
· Lee County was awarded $7,500 to work with the Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative to enact a pilot program that will assist farmers who wish to market produce to institutions under-served by local foods. The pilot program will serve Lee, Moore and Richmond counties.
· The N.C. Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation received a grant of $87,000 to assist with creating a 30-year landowner agreement program for the preservation of working farms and forests under the military training route in Beaufort, Bertie, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Halifax, Harnett, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Onslow, Pamlico, Sampson and Wake counties.
The trust fund’s purpose is to support projects that encourage the preservation of qualifying agricultural, horticultural and forestlands while fostering the growth, development and sustainability of family farms. Grants can be awarded for agricultural agreements that promote the active production of food and fiber on farm and forestlands; public and private enterprise programs that promote profitable and sustainable farm and forestlands; and the purchase of conservation easements on farm and forestlands.
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