Farmland Preservation Grants Awarded in Western North Carolina
By Marisa Sardonia | Sat, October 3, 2026
Several counties in western North Carolina are set to receive farmland preservation grants through a $51.2 million statewide investment, state officials announced on Friday.
The North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, as per the state's Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, awarded grants to farms and projects, providing crucial support to the state's agricultural economy.
The western North Carolina counties benefitting from these grants include:
- Avery
- Cherokee
- Clay
- Haywood
- Macon
- Madison
- Mitchell
- Rutherford
- Transylvania
- Watauga
The General Assembly's 2026-27 budget includes nonrecurring funding of $46.9 million and recurring funding of $2 million for this trust fund, marking the largest single-year investment in program history.
The trust fund facilitates grants to county governments and non-profit organizations for:
- Agricultural conservation easements
- Agricultural development projects
- Agricultural plans
A comprehensive list of grant awards is accessible on the NCDA&CS Farmland Preservation Division website.