Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
County governments and nonprofit groups interested in farmland preservation can apply for funding assistance from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.
The application deadline is Dec. 19. This year’s funding includes state appropriations, plus $1 million for military base and training buffers. The military buffer funds are from the 2014-2015 budget and must be contracted and encumbered by June 15, 2015. The general appropriations are anticipated in the 2015-2017 budget.
Grants can help in the purchase of conservation easements on lands used for agricultural production. They also can be used to support public and private enterprise programs that promote profitable activities in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. In addition, grants can help with the cost of developing farmland protection plans. Over half of North Carolina’s counties have approved farmland protection plans.
Applications and guidelines for the current funding cycle are available online at www.ncadfp.org. If you have questions, call 919-707-3071.
Click on the audio player below to listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda discuss this grant program.
[Audio:http://info.ncagr.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Troxler_11-11.mp3|titles=Today’s Topic for Nov. 11]
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