Triangle Land Conservancy has seen major progress in farmland preservation efforts in Chatham County, where…
Earlier this month, TLC land protection staff put away their field clothes and dusted off their blazers to head to the state capitol. They joined other land trusts, landowners, and county partners to talk with legislators about the importance of state funding for conservation across North Carolina.
At this statewide Farmland Preservation Advocacy Day, Leigh Ann Hammerbacher, Brenna Thompson, Melissa Clunan, and Emma Childs, along with several landowners who have TLC easements on their farms, met with 17 local legislators to advocate for:
- $20 million recurring increase in Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFP) (from $5 million to $25 million)
- $2 million increase in recurring funds for both the NC Land and Water Fund and Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
- Extension of the NC conservation tax credit that’s set to expire at the end of 2026.
The state conservation trust funds are a critical funding source for land trusts to be able to purchase land and conservation easements, and every year there are consistently higher demands on the funds than there is money available. As the price of land continues to increase, these funding sources are stretched thin. ADFP in particular has seen a steep increase in requests over the last few years: with $5 million in recurring funding, the fund can only support a handful of projects across the state.
These funding increases are modest in the scope of the state budget and would deliver a strong statewide impact. TLC regularly requests these funds to help us close land projects like the recent Rose Dairy Farm in Johnston County, which will eventually become Johnston County’s first nature preserve.
The Conservation Tax Credit is a proven, market-based tool that encourages landowners to voluntarily protect farmland, forests, and natural areas while keeping land in private ownership. From 1983 to 2013, this program helped protect more than 262,000 acres across our state. It was a smart investment, too: for every dollar in tax credit issued, North Carolina received at least six dollars' worth of conserved land.
It was encouraging to see the turnout for Lobby Day and to hear the support for these funding sources from representatives in our region. At the same time, it is crucial for legislators to consistently hear from constituents about the importance of conservation funding. TLC staff will continue to engage legislators to stay top of mind this budget season, and we encourage Triangle residents to reach out to their representatives to let them know this funding is critical to protecting North Carolina’s economy, farms and community.
