A major milestone for the NCDA&CS Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund was reached this summer, signaling the need for and support of farmland preservation in North Carolina remains strong.
On Sept. 13, 2025, the ADFP Trust Fund celebrated its 20th anniversary. Just weeks before this celebration, the program recorded its second-largest conservation easement project in its history, pushing the total acreage conserved through the trust fund over 40,000.
Program records second-largest conservation easement
In late July, Working Lands Trust (WLT) permanently conserved 1,568 acres of farmland and working forest in Pamlico County. This marked the completion of the final phase of the McCotter Promised Land Opportunity Zone Farm Easement, a years-long collaborative effort from landowners, public and private partners, and conservation leaders. The first phase closed in 2023 and protected 1,200 acres of land.
Made possible by the partnership of the WLT, ADFP Trust Fund, and the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration, the McCotter Promised Land Opportunity Zone Farm Easement in total now protects 2,768 acres in Pamlico County, and is the largest agricultural conservation easement ever funded with state and federal funds under one landowner in the history of North Carolina.
“This is the second-largest conservation easement in the history of the Farmland Preservation program, and it serves as a perfect reminder of the long-term, strategic benefits that come from investing in farmland conservation to support our state’s top two industries — agriculture and the military,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “I am proud of our continued partnership with the United States Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy and the Working Lands Trust.”
Pamlico County – with its fertile coastal plain soils – has long been a key player in the state’s agriculture industry, with generational farmers growing staples like corn, soybeans and cotton, and managing timber.
“Promised Land OZ is pleased to partner on the strategic preservation of McCotter farm to feed and protect future generations of Americans,” said John Heneghan, Manager of Promised Land Opportunity Zone Funds.
40,000 acres and counting
With this final phase of the McCotter Promised Land Opportunity Zone Farm Easement recorded, North Carolina’s ADFP Trust Fund has now helped permanently conserve over 40,000 acres of working farm, forest and horticulture lands.
This milestone comes just as the program is celebrating its 20th anniversary. On Sept. 13, 2005, then-Gov. Mike Easley signed House Bill 607, establishing the ADFP Trust Fund. That year, Troxler presented “Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Strategy” as a state priority. The first grants were awarded in 2006. Today, the demand for farmland preservation is at an all-time high.
“Farmland Preservation has been a priority of mine since my first day in office in 2005,” said Troxler. “As our state continues to welcome more people that require more infrastructure, land and resources – it is vitally important that we conserve our farmlands for farming.”
Over the past 20 years, the fund has supported that priority by providing funding for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements on farm, forest and horticulture lands; supporting programs that promote family farms and agribusinesses; and funding conservation agreements on active working lands.