Free workshops on Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) programs will be held in February and March across North Carolina. There are now over 84 of these programs in North Carolina.
Dates/Locations:
*February 4 - Plymouth, N.C. - Vernon G. James Research and Extension Center (Northeast)
*February 18 - Mount Olive, N.C. - Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center, Mount Olive College (Southeast)
*February 25 - Elon, N.C. - Elon University (Piedmont)
*March 6 - Newton, N.C. - Catawba County Agricultural Resources Center (Foothills/Western Piedmont)
*March 22 - Franklin, N.C. - Cowee Elementary School (West)
These workshops are for board members, program staff, including cooperative extension and soil and water conservation district employees, planners, municipal/county managers, farmers, citizens -- and those local governments considering adopting or amending a VAD or Enhanced VAD program ordinance.
Registration is now open:
.
Topics to be covered will include:
*Overview of voluntary agricultural district programs and farmland protection planning
*Incentives for program participation
*Considerations for program success
*Overview of regional initiatives pertaining to farm operation and protection -- and economic development
*Program signage on right-of-ways and private property
*Farmland impact assessment for transportation planning
*Food Safety Modernization Act, estate planning and taxes, farm labor
*And other topics...
Registration and workshop information is available here:
http://www.ncadfp.org/vadprogram.htm
There is no fee for this workshop.