The Rowan County Agriculture Advisory Board, and selected members of the Rowan County Agricultural community have been working with consultants from the Mount Olive University Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center to create a comprehensive farmland preservation plan for the Rowan County Board of Commissioners to consider. The committee has been working on this plan since the fall of 2020 and has created a set of recommendations and action steps to provide a guide for protecting and enhancing agriculture in Rowan County. The intent of this plan is neither to limit nor restrict landowner's rights and uses. The plan is intended to serve as a guide for actions to provide farmers, landowners and citizens and increased awareness of farmland preservation opportunities. Agriculture is important to Rowan County ad its economy and to the well-being of family farms. However, the final decision on farmland preservation rests in the hands of the owners of the farms and forests.
The plan needs to be evaluated annually to celebrate accomplishments and add new recommendations as needed. The recommendations are:
- Support measures to protect and promote working forest and farmland in Rowan County.
- Educate Landowners on the benefits of enrolling Conservation Easement Program to keep land available for agricultural use.
- Expand Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (EVAD) Programs
- Develop and construct programs to assist Rowan County farm and forest landowners with farm transition planning.
- Promote appreciation and awareness of the benefits of agriculture to Rowan elected officials and citizens.
- Expand and Support Youth Agricultural Educational Programs.
The Agricultural Advisory Board recommends that the Board of Commissioners adopt the Rowan Working Ag Lands Plan as Presented.
| | |