1. Developing Effective Countywide Farmland Protection Plans
Ted Feitshans
Brandon King N.C. State University Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

2. Support
Additional support provided through the “Understanding the Farm Business Planning and Tax Implications of Federal and State Conservation Incentives” project funded by the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center

3. Model Documents
Models available at this URL:
Flexible documents - modify as needed
Notes provide additional explanation
Review by legal counsel and others is required

4. Model Documents Model currently in DRAFT format
Model comments can be ed to or

5. Model Documents Countywide Farmland Protection Plan
Follows requirements in N.C.G.S. § (e)
Created from other farmland protection plans
Footnotes are contained in the model plan

6. Farmland Protection Planning
Described in N.C.G.S. § (e)
Statute does not currently provide for a municipal farmland protection plan
Municipalities could establish one under their existing planning authority

7. Farmland Protection Planning
Few counties in N.C. currently have a Countywide Farmland Protection Plan
Some counties do have land use plans that contain some of the information necessary for a countywide farmland protection plan already
What needs to be in a plan…

8. Countywide Farmland Protection Planning – Statutory Elements
A list and description of existing agricultural activity in the county
A list of existing challenges to continued family farming in the county
A list of opportunities for maintaining or enhancing small, family‑owned farms and the local agricultural economy
Plans for maintaining a viable agricultue
Implementation schedule

9. Farmland Protection Planning
Farmland preservation tools:
Agricultural economic development
Farm diversification and marketing assistance
Business planning
Farm infrastructure financing
Farmland purchasing
Linking with younger farmers
Estate planning
Ag conservation easement (PDR) programs and VAD and EVAD programs

10. Farmland Protection Planning
Need to also consider land use regulations such as zoning and coordination with comprehensive land use plans
Schedule for implementing the plan and an identification of possible funding sources for the long‑term support of the plan

11. Farmland Protection Planning
Countywide Farmland Protection Plan could be a section of the comprehensive land use plan, or
It may stand alone
To be useful it must be a living document with grassroots support

12. Farmland Protection Planning
Why do a plan?
Assess the state of farming and forestry in the county
Coordinate activities, agencies, and funding for farmland, horticultural land, and forestland preservation
Lower matching percentage required for funds received from Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund if county has a plan

13. Farmland Protection Planning
Resources Available To Assist
NCDA&CS
Cooperative Extension
Division of Soil and Water Conservation
County and Municipal Planning Departments
Councils of Government
N.C. Farm Transition Network
Private Planning Firms