Farmland Preservation Haywood County Becoming an Enhanced Voluntary Agriculture District

USA Farm Stats- Loss

A Few Statistics (2002 survey) NC agriculture generates $68 billion annually Haywood County alone –$11.6 million in cash receipts for livestock, dairy, poultry –$5.2 million in cash receipts for crops 795 farms in County –Totaling 64,611 acres in farms 345,560 total acres in Haywood –Over 132,988 acres in National Park/Forest land –Leaving 147,961 in private forests or urbanized land American Farmland Trust: Resources - Congressional District Agriculture Profile

Haywood Topography

NC Agriculture Districts

Identify Key Players Haywood participating since August 11, 1994 Agriculture Advisory Board Soil and Water Conservation District Board Haywood County Commissioners Haywood SWCD Haywood NRCS Field Office NC Farm Bureau, Haywood Chapter Support Agencies Farm Service Agency NC State University; Cooperative Extension Non-profit community groups USDA RC&D Council NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Sciences (ADFPTF)

Working Together! EVAD VAD SWCDNRCS NC Farm Bureau NC Co-op Ext. County Commiss. NC Depart. Con/Sci Public NGO’s BRCO FSA

Analyze Resources Staff time –Identify leader to organize program –Worker bees –In Haywood’s case- one District staff, one NRCS staff and one NGO staff Utilize Job Skills –GIS Technician –County GIS mapping office Networking –Talking to landowners, farmers in community Cost Share Programs

Whole Farm Planning using Conservation Measures- Best Management Practices Soil and Water Conservation Districts –State Agriculture Cost Share program –Grants USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service –All Farm Bill Programs USDA, RC&D Council

Advisory Board Begin discussion with Advisory Board -Will they work towards the EVAD -Commit to Farmland Protection Plan -Enforce contracts Members geographic areas -Campaign in their areas of county -North, South, East, West parts of county Chairman attending all meetings, carrying out decisions for Board -Important to have attendees at meetings -Active Board

Marketing Fact Sheets –Background information –VAD vs. EVAD –Short and sweet! Handouts –Brochures Application packages –Applications, ordinance, fact sheets, contact info. Media –Website, County T.V., newsletters

Matrix Brochure- Thanks to George Ivey

Application Check boxes for: -EVAD -VAD -Number of acres -Tax pin -Advisory Board contact -Copy sent to Register of Deeds, GIS

One on One Meeting face to face with County Commissioners –Individual meetings –Explain benefits to County –American Farmland Trust conducted a recent study that showed for every dollar in taxes received from working lands, only 34 cents in services is paid by the government. Service paid by the government for residential development showed an average of $1.15 per dollar of taxes received. It is a net gain of revenue for the tax base and thus an economic benefit for any county to preserve working lands. Especially for Haywood County since our community encompasses over 64,000 acres of farmland and produces over 17 million dollars from livestock, dairy and crops into production. Send background information to each Commissioner Make it simple –One page document explaining goals

Presentation County Commissioners for Approval Community Groups for advertising Keep interest rolling –Don’t let momentum slow down –Newspaper articles –Website publications –Flyers –Brochures

Next Steps for Haywood Farmland Protection Plan –Identified whole farm conservation easements NC Agriculture Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund Matching funding resources –Farm Bill Cost Share Programs Conservation Programs Farm & Ranch Lands Protection Program –State Agriculture Cost Share Programs

Resources American Farmland Trust- SE Regional Office – NC Farm Transition Network, Inc. – NC ADFP Trust Fund/ NC Depart. Ag & CS – NC State University, Depart. of Ag & Resource Economics – One NC Naturally- NC Depart of ENR –

Contact Information Kara M. Cassels, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service – x3 Leslie Smathers, Soil & Water Conservation – x3 George Ivey, Bethel Rural Community Organization –