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|| High Country Press Newswire

Aug 14, 2008 issue

State Helps Protect Ashe County Farms

High Country Conservancy received a $19,000 grant from the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to help preserve the Robinson Family farm in Creston. The 54-acre farm has frontage along Three Top Creek. High Country Conservancy (HCC) and Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust (BRRLT) received $19,000 and $30,000 respectively from the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to help protect two farms in Ashe County.

HCC is working to permanently protect a 54-acre farm settled by David Worth in the late 1800s. Located in Creston, the property has frontage along Three Top Creek and contains two types of prime agricultural soils. The property was purchased by the Robinson Family in 1953 and used to raise tobacco and cattle.

“HCC is excited to work towards preserving a historically significant farm in Ashe County,” stated Executive Director Carol Coulter. “Judy Hunter Robinson is dedicated to ensuring her farm remains a farm forever.”

BRRLT is working to permanently protect the 87-acre Helton Creek Farm located in the Lansing Community of Ashe County. Jeff Baldwin purchased Helton Creek Farm in 2001 and quickly transformed his land into a model for agricultural sustainability. In addition to raising Angus cattle, Helton Creek Farm produces goats and miniature donkeys.

According to Walter Clark, executive director for BRRLT, “Helton Creek Farm is a true working farm. Jeff Baldwin is an advocate for farming practices that are economically viable and environmentally friendly.”

The North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund awarded a total of five grants to land trusts in western North Carolina to help protect farmland. The grants made June 23 totaled $1.7 million to work towards the permanent protection of 901 acres of farmland, the equivalent of 682 football fields, dedicated to providing local food and jobs.

“In western North Carolina we are rapidly losing our farmland to development,” said Phyllis Stiles, campaign director for the Blue Ridge Forever coalition. “North Carolina is lucky to have the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. These grants are an important tool in preserving working farms.”

North Carolina leads the nation in farm loss, having lost more than 6,000 farms and 300,000 acres of farmland since 2002. To date, western North Carolina land trusts have protected 124 working farms comprising 15,150 acres and are in a five-year coalition campaign, called Blue Ridge Forever, to protect an additional 50,000 acres of farmland and natural landscape by 2010. About 12,000 working farms remain in western North Carolina and, despite the odds, agriculture continues to lead North Carolina’s economy.

The Trust Fund awarded $7.6 million in grants to local governments and organizations for 41 projects in more than 40 counties that will help protect farmland and promote agricultural enterprises.

“We’re very pleased to be able to help communities in their efforts to preserve farmland and forest land. Our main focus is to maintain working farms and create new opportunities in agriculture,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in the Trust Fund’s press release announcing the grant recipients.