Troxler’s Leadership on Farmland Preservation
Of all the issues Commissioner Troxler has worked to address since he was
sworn into office, perhaps none has been as widely publicized as his efforts to
preserve farmland and support the continued viability of production agriculture
in North Carolina. Commissioner
Troxler is fond of saying that “
North Carolina
is
a leading agricultural state, but losing farms is one category where I don’t
want us to be No. 1.” Noting
that
North Carolina
has lost more than 6,000 farms and 300,000 acres of farmland since 2002,
Commissioner Troxler believes farm loss is a “chronic problem” in our state.
The Commissioner recognizes that the loss of farmland is a complex
problem, but believes it has many workable solutions.
First, he was the driving force behind the creation of the North Carolina
Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, established in
September of 2005. Disappointed that
the Trust Fund received a mere $50,000 in funding in 2005 and 2006, he worked
with legislators from across the state, Democrats and Republicans alike, to
obtain a larger allocation in 2007 ($8 million) and additional funding in 2008
($4 million). The Trust Fund
includes three grant priorities: (1)
permanent conservation easements; (2) term agricultural agreements; and (3)
sustainable or viable agriculture programs.
Managing a multi-million Trust Fund is no small undertaking.
Commissioner Troxler has made it clear to the capable members of his
staff that they are to manage the Trust Fund carefully and ethically, but that
they must simultaneously work quickly to distribute the Fund’s assets.
Second, the Commissioner has committed Department resources to the spread
and growth of Agricultural District Programs.
The legislation that established the Trust Fund also included provisions
which reauthorized counties to undertake a series of programs to preserve
farmland on a local level. Many
counties across
North Carolina
have adopted Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinances and Enhanced Voluntary
Agriculture District Ordinances. Their
benefits can include zoning exemptions, enhanced cost-share eligibility,
increased awareness of agricultural enterprise and protection from nuisance
suits, waiver of water and sewer assessments, and eligibility for funding for
other protection programs. These
ordinances are often the result of many hours of education, compromise, and
cooperation. The Commissioner has
personally worked to spread their adoption, and he has made it a priority for
his staff to do the same.
Third, the Commissioner has worked to establish the Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services as a key player in discussions regarding
farmland preservation policy. According
to Commissioner Troxler: “
North Carolina
is fortunate to have many groups
that work to increase public awareness of the importance of farming and farm
families to our economy. I want my
staff to work with those groups on county, state, and national levels to promote
policies and programs that keep farmers on the farm and keep the tax man off of
it.” Department staff
regularly participate in hearings before the General Assembly, meetings hosted
by a myriad of state agencies, and programs hosted by a number of land
preservation partners. To state that
the Department’s relationship with outside organizations is strong would be an
understatement.
Finally, the Commissioner often points out that farmland preservation
efforts are not just about saving the farmer.
In other words, “saving the farmer” is not just about “saving the
farmer.” He has made clear on a
number of occasions that preserving farms and farmland is a benefit to all
North Carolinians
. Conservation easements,
agricultural districts, protection from zoning, agricultural tax treatment, and
programs that benefit farmers are really an investment in an infrastructure we
all enjoy. In his words:
Active
farmers contribute to our quality of life in a number of ways.
Our rural landscapes have attracted people to this state for years, and
we want to maintain the quality of life so many come here to enjoy.
Our farmers are quite diverse, and they provide a local, safe, affordable
food supply to our citizens. They
also provide environmental benefits that are often overlooked and undervalued
– ground water recharge, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat, to name a
few.
If you appreciate the things Commissioner Troxler has done to preserve
family farms and farmland in
North Carolina
and would like for these efforts to continue, please find his name on the
ballot on November 4, 2008 and re-elect
Steve Troxler as your Commissioner of Agriculture.
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Steve Troxler