County governments and conservation nonprofit groups in North Carolina can apply for grant funding from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund starting August 1. The grants are intended to support farmland preservation projects across the state.
A new application format is required this year, and all applicants must complete the Intent to Apply section by August 29 to be eligible for full application submission. The final deadline for submitting the complete application is December 22.
“The demand for farmland preservation is at an all-time high,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Agricultural conservation easements are a great opportunity for farmers and landowners to secure the future of their farms and keep them in production for generations to come.”
The grants will fund agricultural conservation easements on working farms and forests, support public-private enterprise programs that promote profitable and sustainable agricultural, horticultural, and forestland activities, help develop agricultural plans, and create Agricultural Growth Zones aimed at enhancing local investments in farmland preservation.
Landowners who wish to preserve their farms through agricultural conservation easements must work with county governments or land trusts when applying for these funds. If a grant is awarded that includes funds requested for purchasing a conservation easement, landowners will be compensated for selling their development rights.
Application materials, rules, and information packets can be found online at https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/farmland-preservation/applicants. For additional information, interested parties may contact the Farmland Preservation office at 919-707-3074.
