Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
The N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund recently awarded more than $1.7 million to help communities across the state protect farmland and develop agricultural enterprises.
The trust fund awarded 18 grants to counties, nonprofit organizations and universities for conservation easements on farms, county farmland protection plans and agricultural enterprise projects, such as a study of uses for canola.
The trust fund already is accepting applications for the next grant cycle. County governments and nonprofit groups have until Dec. 18 to apply for funding assistance.
This cycle, the trust fund has a legislative appropriation of $1.6 million, plus $1 million to protect buffers around military bases. The NCDA&CS and the military are working together to protect forests and croplands that are important in the training of the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.
The application and guidelines are available online here. Potential applicants who have questions may call 919-707-3072.
Click on the audio player below to listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda talk about this grant program and the types of projects that are eligible.
[Audio:/wp-content/uploads/Troxler_11-3-15.mp3|titles=Today’s Topic for Nov. 3]
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