The mission of this trust fund is to purchase “agricultural development rights” and “to fund public/private enterprise programs that will promote family farms in North Carolina and ensure the transition of today’s farms to new farm families, producing foods, fibers and value-added products for the future.”

The NC General Assembly appropriated $50,000 to the trust fund in 2005-2006 to establish an Advisory Committee to begin developing the criteria and programs it will need when more funding becomes available.

Land for Tomorrow recommends that this critical trust fund begin receiving $40 million per year from the bond referendum.  We also recommend that the mission of this trust fund be broadened to include encourage protection of working forests as well as farms.

To learn if any grants were made to conserve farms in your county, see our annual report State Conservation Trust Fund Projects.