Farmland Preservation Grants Awarded in Western North Carolina
By Marisa Sardonia | Sat, October 3, 2026 at 4:58 PM | Updated Sat, October 3, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Several counties in western North Carolina are set to receive farmland preservation grants through a significant statewide investment of $51.2 million. The North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund awarded these grants to support the state's agricultural economy.
The beneficiaries include Avery, Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Watauga counties. This funding is a significant boost for these areas, with the General Assembly allocating nonrecurring funding of $46.9 million and recurring funding of $2 million in the 2026-27 budget.
The trust fund supports various initiatives, including:
- Agricultural Conservation Easements: Protecting agricultural lands from development.
- Agricultural Development Projects: Promoting economic growth in rural areas.
- Agricultural Plans: Assisting with long-term planning for sustainable agriculture.
For a complete list of grant recipients, visit the NCDA&CS Farmland Preservation Division website.